John Hinckley Jr. was captured in a photo playing his guitar in Williamsburg, Virginia on September 14, 2022. More than forty years after his attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, Hinckley, who was acquitted on an insanity defense and subsequently hospitalized for 34 years, is now fully free.

However, despite years of treatments and conditional release, he still longs to play a live concert. The incident occurred on March 30, 1981, when the then 25-year-old attempted to assassinate President Reagan outside the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Although Reagan survived the attack, Hinckley’s actions led to his commitment to a psychiatric facility after being found not guilty by reason of insanity. A guitarist and songwriter, Hinckley has returned to writing music after initially abandoning his pursuit in his earlier years.

His music now reflects a desire for a positive mental attitude with themes like love and redemption. He expressed his wish for people to know that he is now an advocate for peace and has a positive message.

In a light-hearted comment, Hinckley expressed his frustration by jokingly mentioning that his concerts were cancelled, implying that he was a victim of cancel culture.