A federal judge last year ruled that it would be all right for John Hinckley, would-be assassin of President Reagan, to enjoy seven four-day visits with his parents at their Virginia home. During the visits his parents are his sole supervisors, and his only requirements are to continue taking his medicine and to meet with a psychiatrist.
This month, with only one visitation remaining, Hinckley asked U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman to extend the order. Despite opposition from prosecutors, Friedman approved an unlimited number of visits until November, when a hearing will be held to determine whether such leniency should continue.
In our view it is outrageous to allow such freedom for the man who, on March 30, 1981, shot Reagan, press secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent and a policemen outside of a Washington, D.C., hotel.
At trial, Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity, but was nevertheless confined to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, a mental facility situated on 300 acres.
We believe Hinckley should remain confined to the hospital grounds, where he can be constantly supervised. He has demonstrated all too well his potential for being a danger to society.
Two other would-be presidential assassins remain behind bars, where they belong, with no such consideration. Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme and Sara Jane Moore tried to shoot President Ford within weeks of each other in September 1975. It would be just as absurd to furlough them as it is to furlough Hinckley.
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