1. In 1981 John W. Hinkley attempted to assassinate then President Ronald Reagan. For this LA, spend considerable time researching and understanding Hinkley’s motivation for engaging in such behavior (referencing the movie Taxi Driver), what mental illness did he suffer from and how did that illness distort his view of reality, and what occurred after the assassination attempt. This last point should include a discussion of the trial, federal law changes (check out the Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984), and, most importantly for this class, what was the public perception of the events that occurred? Regarding this last point, there was and continues to be a large body of research that believes the insanity defense is raised frequently, is often successful, and results in placement in the community. How are those beliefs incorrect?
