Shannon v. United States

512 U.S. 573 (1994)

Facts

A police officer stopped Shannon (D) a convicted felon, and asked him to go to the police station. After telling the officer that he did not want to live anymore, D pulled a pistol from his coat and shot himself in the chest. D survived the suicide attempt and was indicted for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. D raised the insanity defense at trial. D requested the trial judge to inform the jury by instruction that he would be involuntarily committed if the jury returned a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict (NGI). The court refused and instructed the jury that it was to apply the law regardless of consequence and punishment should not enter into consideration or discussion.