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John Hinckley's acquittal on grounds of insanity triggered immediate public outr
Featured Event 1982 Event

June 21

Hinckley Found Not Guilty by Insanity: Reagan's Shooter Walks

John Hinckley's acquittal on grounds of insanity triggered immediate public outrage and forced Congress to rewrite federal insanity defense laws, tightening standards across the nation. The verdict sparked a fierce debate over mental health treatment versus criminal accountability that reshaped legal proceedings for decades.

June 21, 1982

44 years ago

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