Is Release Common for Attempted Presidential Assassins?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the release of individuals who attempted to assassinate U.S. presidents, specifically focusing on John W. Hinckley Jr. and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme. Participants explore the implications of their releases and the broader societal debates surrounding crime and punishment in such high-profile cases.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express surprise at the release of John W. Hinckley Jr. after many years, noting the significant time elapsed since his assassination attempt on President Reagan.
  • One participant humorously comments on the potential implications of Hinckley's release for actress Jodie Foster, suggesting a concern for her safety.
  • A participant raises a legal question regarding whether Hinckley could be tried for the Brady homicide, depending on the specifics of his past charges.
  • Another participant mentions Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme's release on parole in 2009, drawing parallels to Hinckley's situation.
  • There is a discussion about Fromme's intentions during her assassination attempt on Gerald Ford, with one participant suggesting that she did not intend to kill him, despite the serious nature of her actions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the implications of these releases or the motivations behind the assassination attempts. Multiple competing views regarding the intentions and future risks associated with these individuals remain present in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying opinions on the legal ramifications of past actions and the psychological profiles of the individuals involved, but these discussions are not resolved and depend on interpretations of intent and legal definitions.

zoobyshoe
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...ad0e9e-75ca-11e6-be4f-3f42f2e5a49e_story.html

Something I never thought would ever happen to anyone who tried to kill a US president:

John W. Hinckley Jr., wearing a baseball cap and carrying a small bag, on Saturday afternoon stepped into his Williamsburg, Va., home — he can call it that now — 12,948 days after his attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan shook the country and prompted an enduring debate about crime and punishment...
 
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Bad news for Jodie Foster.
 
Does he know Jodie Foster is gay? And will that set him off again?

I wonder if he can be tried for the Brady homicide now? If he was charged with assault back in 1981, he can't, because he was found not guilty on the same set of facts, but if he wasn't, I don't see why not.
 
zoobyshoe said:
Something I never thought would ever happen to anyone who tried to kill a US president
Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, who tried to kill Gerald Ford in 1975, was released on parole in 2009.
 
jtbell said:
Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, who tried to kill Gerald Ford in 1975, was released on parole in 2009.
Wow, I guess I wasn't paying attention to the news when that happened.
 
jtbell said:
Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, who tried to kill Gerald Ford in 1975, was released on parole in 2009.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynette_Fromme
As disturbed as she was, I've always thought she didn't intend to kill Ford . At 27 years old she surely knew enough to put a round in the chamber.
That doesn't excuse it , nor does the fact she fell under Manson's influence at 19
One hates to see such a pretty young girl go bad.

old jim
 

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