Changes

Hinckley was tried in 1982, and found not guilty by reason of insanity.  To this day he is held in a psychiatric hospital, but there is a push for his release.

Hinckley was tried in 1982, and found not guilty by reason of insanity.  To this day he is held in a psychiatric hospital, but there is a push for his release.

The Democratic controlled [[House of Representatives]] and [[gun control]] [[activist]]s used the incident to press for legislation.  The variance of state and local laws and lack of information sharing that allowed a man with a history of mental illness purchase a gun became the pretext for a push for new [[federal]] [[regulation]].  Many sellers and purchasers of guns were also [[NRA]] members who enthusiastically supported Reagan in 1980. Sarah and Jim Brady were invited to testify.   

The Democratic controlled [[House of Representatives]] and [[gun control]] [[activist]]s used the incident to press for new [[federal]] legislation.  The variance of state and local laws, and lack of information sharing that allowed a man with a history of mental illness to purchase a gun became the pretext for [[regulating]] purchasers and sellers of guns, many who were also [[NRA]] members and enthusiastically supported President Reagan in 1980. Sarah and Jim Brady were invited to testify.   

Timothy McCarty, the secret service agent shot by Hinkley, campaigned against the availability of cheap handguns available to  criminals.  This eventually culminated in the passage [[Brady Bill]] (named for James Brady).  The bill included provisions for a mandatory waiting period before purchasing a handgun.<ref>[http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/usr/wbardwel/public/nfalist/brady_act.txt Text of the Brady Bill]</ref>

Timothy McCarty, the secret service agent shot by Hinkley, campaigned against the availability of cheap handguns available to  criminals.  Reagan, in deference to the people who were injured in the an assassination attempt in himself, and thier personal lobbying efforts on behalf of the bill, signed the [[Brady Bill]] into law.  The bill included a federal mandatory waiting period before purchasing a handgun.<ref>[http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/usr/wbardwel/public/nfalist/brady_act.txt Text of the Brady Bill]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.saf.org/LawReviews/Aborn1.html The Battle over the Brady Bill]</ref>

<ref>[http://www.saf.org/LawReviews/Aborn1.html The Battle over the Brady Bill]</ref>