John's assassination (8 December 1980) | Page 5 | Fab Forum

Timothy said
I always remind myself that the jerk traveled to kill John. He went out of his way to find him. If John lived in London, or Ireland, or wherever, that’s where the jerk was going to go.

Afraid I disagree with that. He had a list of possible targets. One of the reasons he settled on John was location as it didn’t involve him leaving the US – where despite a history of mental illness, he was still able to legally buy a gun (a situation that all these years later America has done little to prevent). Had John lived in London, Ireland, or one of many other countries, the man with the gun would have had problems obtaining a gun, and certainly couldn’t have done so legally; nor does it seem to me that he would have changed his method, and maybe settled for a knife. Too hands on, in my opinion.

As to the use of his name, I use it when necessary, but avoid it whenever possible. Here I see no need to repeat his name, given him that fame he sought, as we all know the name. In less-informed environments though, if someone asks who shot John Lennon , I’m not going to say, “the jerk of all jerks,” as that wouldn’t really answer the question.