Hinckley’s Right to Talk

In “Protecting John Hinckley’s Right to Talk to Barbara Walters,” (by Roger Simon, Oct. 1), Simon starts by comparing Hinckley to such notorious convicted felons as Willie Horton, Charles Manson and John Wayne Gacy, and asserts that they are permitted to give interviews. Then he turns around and points out that Hinckley is not a convicted felon and is not allowed to give interviews.

Simon seems to overlook the fact that John Hinckley is a psychiatric patient in a psychiatric hospital. He was found to be incompetent to stand trial, so why would he be competent to give interviews?

It was on psychiatric testimony that he was committed to the hospital, so shouldn’t it be up to the doctors treating him (not the reporters) to decide what is best for him? While Hinckley is committed, what he wants should carry little weight. After all, look at some of the things he’s wanted.

JEANNETTE VAN HORST, Northridge