海角大神

John Hinckley to leave mental hospital to live at home

The man who once tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan no longer poses a threat to himself or others, ruled a federal judge.

First Look

John Hinckley Jr., whose attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan 35 years ago landed him in a Washington mental hospital, will be freed following a federal judge鈥檚 ruling that he no longer poses a threat to himself or to others.

In his ruling, Judge Paul Friedman granted full-time convalescent leave to Mr. Hinckley, finding that he was ready to leave Washington D.C.鈥檚 St. Elizabeth hospital and live with his mother in nearby Williamsburg, Va. The order takes effect on Aug. 5, though he will be required to meet with his psychiatrist in the capital at least once a month, as well as notify the Secret Service when he travels for the appointment.

Hinckley fired six bullets at President Ronald Reagan outside a Washington hotel on March 30, 1981, hitting Reagan as well as a policeman, a Secret Service agent, and press secretary James Brady, who was left partially paralyzed. As a result,聽The聽Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, often referred to as the聽Brady Act聽or the聽Brady Bill, was enacted on Nov. 30, 1993,聽mandating federal聽background checks聽on firearm purchasers in the United States, and imposing a five-day waiting period on purchases.聽

Authorities later recovered whom he had stalked for years, begging her to 鈥済ive me the chance, with this historical deed, to gain your respect and love.鈥� Charged with assault with intent to kill and assault with a dangerous weapon, he was found not guilty for reason of insanity.

Doctors have long said that Hinckley no longer poses a serious danger, and in December 2003, to make day visits to his mother at her Virginia home. Those visits grew into extended stays. At the time of the judge鈥檚 latest ruling, Hinckley had a driver鈥檚 license, and was spending about half of every month at his parents鈥� home.

In 2011, 海角大神 noted that the hospital was seeking the authority to place Hinckley on convalescent leave for an indefinite period without court approval. But federal authorities had successfully raised doubts about the patient鈥檚 capacity for violence.

鈥淥ne episode in particular troubles federal authorities, reminding them of the obsession Hinckley had with actor Jodie Foster,鈥� the Monitor wrote at the time, citing a court document in which Justice Department officials said Hinckley had continued to be 鈥渄eceptive regarding his relationship with and interest in women.鈥�

In the document, then-US Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. that in June 2009, Hinckley 鈥渟earched the Internet for photographs of his female dentist,鈥� adding that 鈥渨hen he was caught, Hinckley claimed, falsely, that the dentist had invited him to view her personal photographs.鈥�

Ronald Reagan鈥檚 daughter, Patti Davis, has opposed the lifting of restrictions on Hinckley, that the original not-guilty decision was a 鈥渂ad verdict.鈥�

鈥淚 hope the doctors are right when they say that John Hinckley isn鈥檛 a danger to anyone,鈥� Ms. Davis in the Daily Beast, 鈥渂ut something in me feels they are wrong.鈥�

Hinckley鈥檚 hobbies include painting, photography, and playing the guitar. In court documents reviewed by the Associated Press, he has said he would like to 鈥渇it in鈥� and be a 鈥済ood citizen,鈥� and indicated interest in getting a full-time job.

This report contains material from the Associated Press and Reuters.