John Hinckley Jr., the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, spoke out Wednesday against violence amid the fallout from Donald Trump’s shooting at a Pennsylvania rally.
“Violence is not the way to go. Give peace a chance,” wrote the once-upon-a-time would-be killer, who was suffering from extreme psychosis when he shot Reagan, press secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent and a police officer, under the misguided idea that it would impress actress Jodie Foster.
Violence is not the way to go. Give peace a chance.
— John Hinckley (@JohnHinckley20) July 17, 2024
Many commenters were skeptical of his message, given his history, but Hinckley of all people has had plenty of time to reflect.
Deemed unfit to stand trial by reason of insanity after shooting the president, then 25-year-old Hinckley went on to spend 34 years in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was released and strictly monitored for several more years before being granted unconditional release in June 2022.
Hinkley has expressed regret for his actions and his role in American history.
“I feel badly for all of them. I have true remorse for what I did,” Hinckley told CBS News in his first televised interview after being fully released. “I know that they probably can’t forgive me now, but I just want them to know that I am sorry for what I did.”
Since then he has been a folk musician, saying recently that therapy and music had helped him turn his life around. Some of his songs convey a similar peace-yearning message.
“I had a lot of therapy,” Hinckley told WAVY-TV in March. “I had a lot of time outside on the grounds. I developed a cat colony at the hospital when I was out on my grounds privileges. I took care of a bunch of cats, and they helped me get through my day.”
The bullet of Thomas Matthew Crooks grazed Trump’s ear at the Saturday rally. A man was killed shielding his family, and two other men were wounded. Security agents shot Crooks dead.
With News Wire Services