Ross: Should Rittenhouse go free?
Nov 15, 2021, 6:10 AM | Updated: 9:49 am
Kyle Rittenhouse peers at the screen as attorneys for both sides argue about a video during Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (Mark Hertzberg /Pool Photo via AP)
(Mark Hertzberg /Pool Photo via AP)
I’ll turn today’s commentary over to Tony H. from Kitsap County, who was replying to my Friday commentary about the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse.
Rittenhouse stands charged with shooting three people during a demonstration in Kenosha in August of 2020. Two men died. He claims self-defense. Closing arguments are Monday.
Tony writes:
“I won’t mourn any of the jack—– shot by Kyle. They were vile criminals causing trouble in the safety of a crowd of jack—–.
“I will mourn for Kyle, whether found guilty or not. He made an immature decision as is indicative of many 17-year-old boys. The AR-15 was not the best defensive weapon he could have chosen … Open carry of any weapon in a hostile crowd is not the best thing he could have done.
“Kyle certainly would have been in danger had he waded into the crowd armed or unarmed. The rifle made him a little more visible. He was undoing what they were doing … He was in for a beating by the jack—– or by our legal system. But such are the results of the decisions a 17-year-old boy makes.”
Tony continues:
“We agree, I think, that Kyle should have stayed home. If he had to be there, he should have stayed with his friends unarmed. If he had to go out to put out a fire, he should have gone out with others. He didn’t.
“Those he shot made choices, too. They chose to assault an armed person. There is no doubt in my mind they would have done much more damage than Kyle if they had disarmed him.
“Kyle’s life was endangered and these guys kept after him. They were out for destruction as an anonymous part of a riot. Kyle was there as an immature boy with little idea of what he was doing. But this is part of the Monday morning quarterbacking …
“Everyone got what they deserved. Kyle has a life lesson that I hope no one has to have.
“I hope he is found not guilty and the twitter trolls and “journalists” leave him to sort out his life. He still has time.”
Thank you, Tony. I would just add, if you get your wish and he is found not guilty, look for more teenagers with AR-15s to show up at demonstrations to play cop. Because another characteristic of the teenage brain is that just because one young man learns his lesson doesn’t mean other young men will learn theirs.
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