# The Rittenhouse trial **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 4, 2021, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798 "2021-11-04T14:56:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 55
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1083 "2021-11-19T18:37:10Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’m not criticizing the jury. Well, you criticized the verdict, which the jury delivered. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1084 "2021-11-19T18:37:39Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > > [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > > > The idea that someone would protest 12 people ruling on evidence > > No - they will be protesting the law opening the flood gates to vigilante justice. Rittenhouse got a trial, the three people he killed did not. I hope the 2 dead and 1 wounded stand as a lesson to future criminals who believe you can attack people on the street with impunity. Americans have the right to fight back. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1085 "2021-11-19T18:38:58Z")
> [@3AxisCtrl](#): > > Well, you criticized the verdict, which the jury delivered. I’m _disappointed_ with the verdict, but I understand it. I’m happy criticizing Rittenhouse and his terrible judgment. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1086 "2021-11-19T18:39:00Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I hope the 2 dead and 1 wounded stand as a lesson to future criminals who believe you can attack people on the street with impunity. Americans have the right to fight back. White Americans, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1087 "2021-11-19T18:39:27Z")
All Americans have the right of self-defense. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1088 "2021-11-19T18:40:42Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > you can attack people on the street with impunity. Rittenhouse proved you can. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1089 "2021-11-19T18:40:50Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > We really need to fix a situation where we know if the color of the skin of the people involved were reversed, the verdict likely would be different. You mean is instead of a white guy shooting 3 white guys, it was instead a white guy shooting 3 white guys? Or are you saying it would be different if they were all black? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1090 "2021-11-19T18:41:01Z")
Well, I hope Kyle continues his nursing studies in Arizona. Maybe he learned something from this experience and will make the most of this 2nd chance. He’s only 18 and still needs to mature and act more responsible. He certainly needs to be a lot more careful about the situations and people that he associates with. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1091 "2021-11-19T18:41:11Z")
I don’t see how that follows, as he had shot someone before anyone laid a hand on him. The drone footage made clear that he was pointing his gun at the demonstrators before anyone approached him. > [@Procrustus](#): > > I’m not sure there is a reason for protests. The reason for protests is to change the laws so that such actions are not permitted in the future. > [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > The idea that someone would protest 12 people ruling on evidence and following the rule of law is disgusting. And the idea that that is what the protest for is stupid. What the protest would be froe would either be that the prosecutors tanked the case for political reasons, or that the legislature needs to update laws so that this situation cannot be repeated. > [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > It’s a protest advocating for lynching, essentially, because you’re saying guilt shouldn’t be determined by an impartial jury but that people should simply be convicted because the mob demands it. That is the mindset that led to decades of widespread lynching in the United States and is disgusting and abominable. No, none of what you said here is remotely true. OTOH, this verdict does set the precedent that anytime there is a protest, the demonstrators may be killed indiscriminately. Now, do you think that this will be evenly enforced? Will it be as acceptable to shoot anti-vax protestors as it is to shoot BLM demonstrators? I suppose we will find out, one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1092 "2021-11-19T18:41:24Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I hope the 2 dead and 1 wounded stand as a lesson to future criminals who believe you can attack people on the street with impunity. Americans have the right to fight back. Apparently they have the right to hunt down human beings if they are of the correct political persuasion. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1093 "2021-11-19T18:41:38Z")
There is nothing to suggest that. ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1094 "2021-11-19T18:41:53Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I hope the 2 dead and 1 wounded stand as a lesson to future criminals who believe you can attack people on the street with impunity. Americans have the right to fight back. The thing is the 4th person here did get away with killing the others on the street. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1095 "2021-11-19T18:42:14Z")
Because he was found to have acted in self-defense. Did you miss the verdict? And the trial? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1096 "2021-11-19T18:42:23Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > We are a country of laws; we cannot genuinely advocate for ignoring black letter law in a criminal trial simply because we “really don’t like” what someone did. Can we advocate for changes to these laws in order to prevent these circumstances from being repeated? Or is that also “arbitrary justice and an erosion of important protections we all enjoy.”? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1097 "2021-11-19T18:42:32Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > There is nothing to suggest that Except reality. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1098 "2021-11-19T18:42:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Well, I hope Kyle continues his nursing studies in Arizona. Maybe he learned something from this experience and will make the most of this 2nd chance. He’s only 18 and still needs to mature and act more responsible. Let’s hope his bloodlust is satiated. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1099 "2021-11-19T18:44:18Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > All Americans have the right of self-defense. You are wrong The law quoted, and the instructions given, clearly state self-defense is a privilege that can be granted by the state There is no Constitutional right to self-defense Jesus never granted one ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1100 "2021-11-19T18:44:56Z")
There is absolutely a constitutional right to self-defense. Like many rights, it is subject to regulation by statutory law. ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1101 "2021-11-19T18:44:57Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > We really need to fix a situation where we know if the color of the skin of the people involved were reversed, the verdict likely would be different. Huh? Wasn’t this four while males? How is race relevant here? ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/1102 "2021-11-19T18:45:02Z")
Since Kyle’s now 18, can he ask for his gun back so he and his buds can make sure the protests don’t get violent tonight? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798.md?page=54) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798.md?page=56)