John Hinckley Comments on Recent Shooting Incident

John Hinckley, the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, shared his thoughts on the shooting that occurred at the recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner. In a Sunday interview, he expressed concerns about the safety of the Washington Hilton Hotel, stating it shouldn’t host such events due to ongoing security issues.

Hinckley remarked, “It’s not a safe place to have a large event.” He reflected on how security was “lax” during his own attempt on Reagan’s life, emphasizing how he managed to blend in with reporters waiting for the president to exit the hotel. According to him, Secret Service agents failed to inquire about his identity, which could have prevented the incident.

He mentioned that even a simple verification process would have exposed his plan and potentially changed the course of events. Hinckley also noted that learning about the recent shooting, which occurred in the same hotel, felt “eerie.” He highlighted the rising security concerns in light of the shooting, which involved suspect Cole Allen firing shots, hitting a Secret Service agent before being taken into custody.

Moreover, Fox News reporter Bill Melugin raised alarms about security protocols at the event. He claimed that when he arrived, his name was not checked against any official list, nor was he required to show ID or undergo a pat-down. This lack of thoroughness could be troubling in terms of safety.

Hinckley, who served 34 years in a psychiatric hospital after being found not guilty by reason of insanity, was released in June 2022. He has since apologized for his actions and expressed remorse to the families affected by his attempt on Reagan’s life and to actress Jodie Foster.