John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, has spoken publicly about the factors he believes contributed to his actions, according to an exclusive interview with filmmaker and producer Mark Joseph. The interview was conducted as a director's cut of the film 'Reagan' prepares to return to theaters in September.
Hinckley shot Reagan outside the Washington Hilton Hotel on March 30, 1981. The attack also wounded White House Press Secretary James Brady, Washington police officer Thomas Delahanty, and Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy. Reagan survived after suffering a punctured lung and internal bleeding. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive critics have long argued that Hinckley's eventual release from court supervision in 2022 raised serious questions about how the legal system handles individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity for violent political acts. Mental health advocates and some Democratic lawmakers have called for stricter monitoring requirements and longer supervision periods for such cases.
Civil liberties organizations note that Hinckley spent more than three decades in psychiatric care before his release, suggesting the system worked as intended to treat and eventually reintegrate individuals who demonstrated reduced risk. They argue against using Hinckley's interviews as justification for rolling back mental health treatment frameworks or expanding punitive approaches.
'The insanity defense exists because the legal system recognizes that mental illness can impair someone's understanding of right and wrong,' said one criminal justice reform advocate who spoke on background. 'Hinckley's case shows a lengthy period of treatment before any consideration of release.'
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative commentators have pointed to Hinckley's interviews as evidence of ongoing concerns about media influence on unstable individuals. Some Republican lawmakers have cited such cases in advocating for stricter scrutiny of entertainment content and its potential effects on vulnerable populations.
'This is exactly what critics warned about decades ago regarding the impact of violent imagery,' said one conservative media commentator who has written about the case. 'When someone publicly credits a film with influencing their decision to attempt political violence, it deserves serious consideration.'
Supporters of the Reagan film have framed its theatrical re-release as an opportunity to revisit the former president's legacy during the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. The original film starred Dennis Quaid and drew both praise from Reagan admirers and criticism from those who noted its dramatization of historical events.
What the Numbers Show
Hinckley spent 42 years under some form of supervision or institutional care before his release in December 2022, when a court ended his federal supervision after determining he no longer posed a threat. He was originally institutionalized at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C.
The 1981 assassination attempt left James Brady with permanent brain damage; he subsequently became an advocate for gun violence prevention and co-founded the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The attack occurred 69 days into Reagan's presidency.
Hinckley's obsession with actress Jodie Foster stemmed from watching the 1976 film 'Taxi Driver,' in which she played a young prostitute. Forensic psychologists have cited the case in discussions about celebrity stalking and targeted violence throughout the decades since.
The Bottom Line
The renewed attention on Hinckley comes as mental health policy debates continue in Congress, with ongoing discussions about how to balance treatment, public safety, and civil liberties when handling individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity. His public statements add a rare first-person perspective to those policy conversations.
The director's cut release of 'Reagan' is scheduled for September as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. Mark Joseph produced the film, which will return to theaters with additional footage. Hinckley's interviews are expected to generate further discussion as the film's release approaches.