John Hinckley, Jr., who tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, has been granted release from a psychiatric hospital. Hinckley spent 35 years in the institution for his would-be assassination. At the time, he claimed his plans were intended to catch the attention of actress Jodie Foster. Now and in a 103-page court order, a judge decreed Hinckley no longer posed a threat to himself or others. Although he is being released, Hinckley will be living with his mother and will still be under some supervision.
One condition of Hinckley’s release stipulates that he “shall have no contact whatsoever” with a number of individuals, including Foster. Hinckley was only 25 when he tried to carry out his plan. In the process, he shot White House Press Secretary James Brady, who suffered permanent brain damage from the attempt and died in 2014.
Some are not convinced that Hinckley is completely rehabilitated and, therefore, they believe he should not be released. Reagan’s daughter, Patti Davis, wrote on her website that she opposed the release, saying: “I hope the doctors are right when they say that John Hinckley isn’t a danger to anyone, but something in me feels they are wrong.”
Foster has yet to make a statement on the matter.