HINCKLEY WANTS OUT

John Hinckley attempted to assassinate the President of the United States and almost succeeded. Before and during his trial, he was able to convince a group of psychiatrists that he was insane and, on that basis, was acquitted. Now that he has been in the mental hospital for 22 years, he has convinced a group of psychiatrists that he no longer is insane. Anyone see a pattern?

I have two comments. One is that the laws of the US should be changed to recognize guilt. John Hinckley was guilty of the crime despite any mitigating factors. Insane, OK fine, but still guilty. Under no circumstances should someone be acquitted of responsibility for a crime just because that person is not thinking straight.

Under no circumstances should John Hinckley ever see the light of day. If the laws of the US don't protect the President by mandating supreme punishment, then any good actor could pump smoke up the rectum of a bunch of psychiatrists and get away with it. He pumped smoke to get acquitted and now he's pumping smoke to get out.