August 4, 201412 yr James Brady, gun control advocate, dies Former White House press secretary James Brady, who survived a bullet wound to the head during the 1981 assassination attempt on President Reagan and went on to lead the gun control campaign that bears his name, has died at age 73, his family said in a statement Monday. The family statement cited "a series of health issues" for the long-time political spokesman who was paralyzed during the attack 33 years ago.
August 4, 201412 yr 1981 - Conner High - leaving school - hopped in Steve Heuser's car and heard the news.
August 4, 201412 yr Author God bless him! Amen! I found this interesting in the article: Reagan -- reportedly over objections from wife Nancy -- tapped Brady as White House press secretary shortly after the 1981 inauguration. Nicknamed "The Bear," the garrulous Brady was highly regarded by the press corps. "I come before you today not as just another pretty face, but out of sheer talent," the balding Brady told reporters shortly before he got the job.
August 4, 201412 yr 1981 - Conner High - leaving school - hopped in Steve Heuser's car and heard the news. Waiting for school to end at Boyle County High and heard the news in the coaches office. Told a friend at the end of school what was going on and she said, "That's a sick joke Hatz. You are sicko to say that." Needless to say she apologized later.
August 4, 201412 yr 1981 - Conner High - leaving school - hopped in Steve Heuser's car and heard the news.Sign of the times that you had to wait until after school, and then heard about a presidential assassination attempt on the radio.
August 5, 201412 yr Was only 6 when it happened but remember seeing stuff on TV about it. Mainly the replay of it happening. One of the few things I remember as a kid.
August 8, 201412 yr DC ME has ruled the death to be a homicide. Interesting. They're linking his death to his injuries suffered in Reagan's assassination attempt, thus opening up John Hinckley Jr. to a murder charge. This could be VERY interesting, given the fact that Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Is he still "insane" 33 years later? Does that make him more or less liable today?
August 8, 201412 yr My sister and I just had an argument about this. She thinks it's stupid to even think about charging Hinckly because he's in a mental hospital. I, on the other hand, find this to be an intriguing case of an attempt for justice. As it stands, Hinckley has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. I would think that some day, should he be found mentally competent, he could go free despite the life he ruined. Charging him with homicide offers another opportunity for the prosecution to put forth a case that could hold him responsible for his actions, and could ensure he never goes free. Of course, all that's just my hypothesis.
August 8, 201412 yr My sister and I just had an argument about this. She thinks it's stupid to even think about charging Hinckly because he's in a mental hospital. I, on the other hand, find this to be an intriguing case of an attempt for justice. As it stands, Hinckley has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. I would think that some day, should he be found mentally competent, he could go free despite the life he ruined. Charging him with homicide offers another opportunity for the prosecution to put forth a case that could hold him responsible for his actions, and could ensure he never goes free. Of course, all that's just my hypothesis. I would think that the crux of the matter, though, comes down to whether or not he was mentally competent at the time when he committed the crime rather than after any mental rehabilitation that he undergoes.
August 9, 201412 yr I would think that the crux of the matter, though, comes down to whether or not he was mentally competent at the time when he committed the crime rather than after any mental rehabilitation that he undergoes. True, which is why I find this all the intriguing to see how it plays out. I am looking forward to this, simply because the intricacies of our legal system fascinate me.
August 9, 201412 yr If he was judged to be incompetent three decades ago, it would seem (to me) difficult to introduce evidence now that would change that ruling. But I'm about as far from a legal expert as a person can be, and I agree that this will be interesting to follow. And to demonstrate just how singularly inept I am with respect to the legal system, do either of the terms "statute of limitations" or "double jeopardy" apply here?
August 9, 201412 yr If he was judged to be incompetent three decades ago, it would seem (to me) difficult to introduce evidence now that would change that ruling. But I'm about as far from a legal expert as a person can be, and I agree that this will be interesting to follow. And to demonstrate just how singularly inept I am with respect to the legal system, do either of the terms "statute of limitations" or "double jeopardy" apply here? I'm far, far from a legal expert. But double jeopardy wouldn't apply since he wasn't charged with the homicide of Jim Brady then, I would think. And I don't think homicide has a statute of limitations. A woman was just charged recently in the death of her infant son over 20 years ago.
August 9, 201412 yr John Hinkley has been allowed to leave the institution he is at for at least 20 years now and has been disciplined for harboring Jodie Foster items on numerous occasions although none recently. As recently as 2011, a doctor said he had recovered to the point that he was not an imminent threat to anyone. To me, this is a perfect excuse now for them to cease those visits and put him in prison. The Justice Dept. has continually argued that he is a threat and should not be allowed out. I tend to agree but I think he should stay in the institution.
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.