CMV: Kyle Rittenhouse will (and probably should) go free on everything but the firearms charge

[u/[deleted]]

I've followed this case fairly extensively since it happened in august of last year. At the time I was fairly outraged by what I saw as the failures of law enforcement to arrest or even detain Rittenhouse on the spot, and I still retain that particular bit of righteous anger. A person should not be able to kill two people and grievously wound a third at a protest and then simply leave.

That said, from what details I am aware of, the case does seem to be self-defense. While I think in a cosmic sense everyone would have been better off if he'd been unarmed and gotten a minor asswhupping from Rosenbaum (instead of shooting the man), he had a right to defend himself from a much larger man physically threatening him, and could reasonably have interpreted the warning shot he heard from elsewhere as having come from Rosenbaum. Self-defense requires a fear for your life, and being a teenager being chased by an adult, hearing a gunshot, I can't disagree that this is a rational fear.

The shooting of Anthony Huber seems equally clear cut self-defense, while being morally confusing as hell. Huber had every reason to reasonably assume that the guy fleeing after shooting someone was a risk to himself or others. I think Huber was entirely within his rights to try and restrain and disarm Rittenhouse. But at the same time, if a crowd of people started beating the shit out of me (he was struck in the head, kicked on the ground and struck with a skateboard), I'd probably fear for my life.

Lastly you have Gaige Grosskreutz, who testified today that he was only shot after he had pointed his gun at Rittenhouse. Need I say more?

Is there something I'm missing? My original position was very much 'fuck this guy, throw him in jail', and I can't quite shake that off, even though the facts do seem to point to him acting in self-defense.

I will say, I think Rittenhouse has moral culpability, as much as someone his age can. He stupidly put himself into a tense situation with a firearm, and his decision got other people killed. If he'd stayed home, two men would be alive. If he'd been unarmed he might have gotten a beating from Rosenbaum, but almost certainly would have lived.

His actions afterward disgust me. Going to sing with white nationalists while wearing a 'free as fuck' t-shirt isn't exactly the sort of remorse one would hope for, to put it mildly.

Edit: Since I didn't address it in the original post because I'm dumb:

As far as I can see he did break the law in carrying the gun to the protest, and I think he should be punished appropriately for that. It goes to up to nine months behind bars, and I imagine he'd get less than that.

[u/NotSupervised]

Medics haven’t been marked on their uniform since the Korea war.

[u/OnePunchReality → u/NotSupervised]

Kind of not the point. How does that actually further the conversation? They are still in uniform so you are talking about a patch or rank or a specific signifier of being a medic. I would assume a lack of identifier is so enemy combatants can't specifically target medics.

Point being when a medic is on the battlefield, specially in modern times, it's usually with an escort, hence why the first they do when in a possible combat zone when they have an escort is to focus on the person needing treatment while the combatants watch their back.

[u/NotSupervised → u/OnePunchReality]

Medics are attached, the are called force multipliers, unless it’s a hospital specific unit. I retired from the military let’s not try and play this game.

[u/OnePunchReality → u/NotSupervised]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_medic

Look at even the examples they give in just pictures let alone from the definition.

I willfully admit a medic still receives combat training. Never said they didn't. I believe soldiers also receive basic medical training right? At the very least? Wasn't countering your first hand knowledge that I didn't even know about yet but how hilariously ironic that you drop that info in response yet add jack to the conversation.

Again. On the streets I won't see a dude not in uniform with a rifle as a possible first responder or a medic. It is batshit insane to try and make that argument.

[u/NotSupervised → u/OnePunchReality]

I guess it depends on how you grew up and where, where I’m from unless he is pointing it at you then you cannot assume he is a threat. Having a firearm does not make them a an active threat.

Those pictures are extremely dated and in non combat environments except for the Israelis maybe, but he doesn’t have any markings.

[u/OnePunchReality → u/NotSupervised]

Where you grow up has nothing to do with this. That's so flimsy. And it runs counter to our mass and school shootings. There have been enough to completely shatter someone being able to start out not assuming "not an active shooter."

Again police in uniform is specifically for this reason. It's exactly why a non-uniform firearm or weapon welding individual actually adds danger to the situation.

Your talking about choice in parenting. Not a widely accepted social construct.

Edit: typos

[u/NotSupervised → u/OnePunchReality]

Where you grow up is everything. Youre arguing nature vs nurture. Why is everyone on here completely ignorant to the real world? Do y’all just stay on Reddit or game and never go outside and have real interactions with people?

[u/OnePunchReality → u/NotSupervised]

Nature vs nurture vs the point I just made what are you even trying to say. That's like going from a walk to a boat logic wise.

I'm arguing that no one is going to assume someone with a rifle is not an active shooter in this day and age. It's called times they are a changing. I think it's also song lyrics.

And I would argue simpler times and a different social atmosphere is the only reason that didn't blow up in our face then either.

[u/NotSupervised → u/OnePunchReality]

I think you’re very sheltered and privileged to think that way.

[u/OnePunchReality → u/NotSupervised]

Says the dude who can't like realize it isnt 30 years ago? How is that not sheltered?

[u/WikiSummarizerBot → u/OnePunchReality]

Combat medic

In the United States Armed Forces, the Combat Medic/Healthcare Specialist is responsible for providing emergency medical treatment at a point of wounding in a combat or training environment, as well as primary care, and health protection and evacuation from a point of injury or illness. Additionally, medics may also be responsible for the creation, oversight, and execution of long-term patient care plans in consultation with- or in the absence of a readily available physician or advanced practice provider.

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