But why did he take an AR-15 style weapon downtown in the first place? That's my primary question as I reflect on the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. When I was a kid my parents would say of certain actions on my part, "You're just asking for trouble." That seems to me to be the case here. Carrying such a weapon into the middle of a protest heavily monitored by the police was just asking for trouble. The defense argued he was being a good citizen, and was there to protect private property. But isn't that what we pay law enforcement to do? The last I knew Kenosha wasn't part of the Old West.
We are told it is very hard to argue against self-defense. And that may indeed be the case. And maybe his actions were in defense of his own safety. But if he was worried about staying safe, why was he there? Why didn't he stay home, out of harm's way?
Yes, we need to respect the jury's decision, though I can't help but think it might have gone differently had he been a 17-year-old black man. To their credit, the jury did appear to take their work seriously. There was no snap judgement. But still . . . why did he take a rifle downtown?
I continue to support the right to bear arms, but within limits. I do so in the hope that gun owners will use them wisely and well. Which is the case with many gunowners I know and respect. But I imagine most of them would have stayed home that fated day. Or gone to work, or school. But not downtown. After all, if Kyle Rittenhouse had done that--stayed home--or at least left his gun behind, Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber might still be alive, and Gaige Grosskreutz would have his whole arm.
Really, in the end, this isn't about gun rights. It's about commonsense. Which brings me back to my original question . . . why did he take an AR-15 style weapon downtown in the first place? Why?
Yes, why? Why did the judge give Kyle a hug at the end? Why was the prosecuting attorney so unqualified? And yes, why did Kyle leave his house? Is this the new norm…I sincerely hope not!
ReplyDeleteThis ignorant vigilante frame of mind is sinking our country. It is based on not only ignorance, but fear and selfishness as well.
ReplyDeleteIf you watched the trial and footage shared during the trial, you would see & hear that he was asked by a store owner friend if he would stand guard over his store to protect it from being looted & burned (which was happening); and that the men he shot CHASED him which he ran away yelling "friendly, friendly"; that they attacked him unprovoked; and that it was clearly self-defense. Even the man whose arm he shot confirmed in court that Kyle shot his gun at him ONLY after the man advanced on him, pointing a loaded gun at his face, less than 3 feet away. They showed stills from the footage showing just this. Up to that point, even when the man was just 5 feet away with his hands up, Kyle did not shoot him.
ReplyDeleteThe FOOTAGE showed him being chased, while yelling "friendly". The prosecution did not find any evidence he was racist. In fact, none of those shot were black-they were white. He isn't a perfect character, but any person deserves to be dealt with honestly. He brought a medic bag, having had training in that area, and there were pictures of him cleaning graffiti off buildings earlier in the day.
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