On March 30, 1981, Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, was shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. as he was leaving a speech to the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO. Hinckley, who had developed an obsession with actress Jodie Foster, chose this act of violence in an attempt to impress her. At approximately 2:27 PM, as Reagan was entering his limousine, Hinckley fired six shots from a .38 caliber revolver. One bullet struck Reagan in the chest, while others injured Press Secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent, and a police officer. Reagan was swiftly transported to George Washington University Hospital, where he underwent a successful surgery that would save his life. The immediate aftermath of the shooting revealed a heightened sense of vulnerability for political figures and spurred significant discourse about the nation's gun laws. The event also led to an increase in security protocols for public offices and events. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity, leading to further discussions about mental health and the legal system's handling of such cases.