Thirty Years Have Passed Since John Lennon's Death (Video)

John Lennon Signs Autograph For His Killer,
Mark David Chapman, on December 8, 1980

December 8, 2010 -- this coming Wednesday -- will mark the 30th anniversary of John Lennon's death at the hands of a crazed fan.  Yes, John Lennon was a kook politically, but a musical genius and a great rock musician.  I was and continue to be a fan.  His loss to music was incalculable, the injustice of it maddening.

Early in the day of December 8, 1980, Lennon had signed an autograph for his killer (see picture), a warped piece of human excrement named Mark David Chapman.  Chapman had purchased a hand gun from a pawn shop and was stalking Lennon outside his New York apartment complex, the Dakota.  Later that evening, when Lennon returned from a recording session, Chapman was still there outside the Dakota.  He then pulled his gun and fired five shots: three hit Lennon in the chest, and one hit his left shoulder.

Mark David Chapman was obviously insane, but opted to drop the insanity defense and plead guilty. He received a prison sentence of 20 years to life, but has never been released.  Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, has opposed all of Chapman's parole hearings and parole has been denied to Chapman six times.  Personally, I hope the sick bastard never gets out of jail.

Mark David Chapman was a fan of John  Lennon.  So why did he murder Lennon?  I remember reading the opinions of psychiatrists shortly after Lennon's death.  One said that by killing Lennon, Chapman sought to own Lennon, to forever link his name with that of his hero.

Read more at the UK Daily Mail here and at the UK Guardian here.