Up To Date With Ethan Callender Entry 24: (Arguments) Shot Down

Up To Date With Ethan Callender Entry 24: (Arguments) Shot Down

DISCLAIMER: This entry discusses the Kyle Rittenhouse case, which may be extremely sensitive for some people. Reader discretion is advised.

The news recently has been incredibly interesting, but due to various reasons, I was unable to write a new entry until now. Therefore, I want to quickly mention the verdict in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse. To begin, I want to state that in my non-expert opinion, no one side is correct about his case. For example, more liberal Americans are missing that the weapon Rittenhouse used was likely always in Wisconsin. More conservative Americans, on the other hand, are claiming he acted solely in self-defense. That would be a fair argument, but he drove himself to the scene as a civilian, thus proving he planned to be there. I don’t know about you, but if someone planned to be in a violent situation, that person shouldn’t be able to claim self-defense. What I’m saying is that he made a really dumb and dangerous, if not outright reckless and criminal, decision. 

Rittenhouse’s decision to be in Kenosha at that time led to the deaths of two men and serious injury of another. Even if it is self-defense, Rittenhouse seemingly shot to kill, and that is clearly manslaughter. However, Wisconsin does not have manslaughter in its criminal codes verbatim, replacing it with “second-degree intentional homicide.” The site I found states that this charge involves no premeditation and may be used if the killing wasn’t in cold blood. Now, we know Rittenhouse killed two men, but the killings weren’t premeditated. Therefore, it can’t be murder. However, considering that Rittenhouse drove himself to Kenosha and had an AR-15, it’s fair to say this wasn’t self-defense, either. Yet the past is the past, and Rittenhouse walks free.
 He’s incredibly lucky to even be alive given that he was in a riot situation after a police shooting. He's even more lucky that he was found not guilty. If the judge in the case, Bruce Schroeder, was not blatantly biased towards Rittenhouse and terrible at his job, he would’ve been found guilty. Same would apply if the prosecutors didn’t bungle their arguments and overshoot on the charges. With such luck, Rittenhouse should be thankful he even has the opportunity to turn his life around and use his newfound platform for good. After all, many people get sent to prison for years for far less. 

 

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