This whole situation is filled with foolishness all around.
We cannot account for the extent of protestors who were present with concealed weapons or devices intended to cause harm (for perceived self defense or a euphoric and misplaced sense of justice), never mind the actual rioters looting several businesses in the town. Rioting should never happen, alas it is typical behavior when a sense of collapse in civil order is perceived. There are many examples of this in the past and we can't account for the individual cases of each person who took part in this.
Overall, I completely agree within the grounds of the charges brought against him, that Rittenhouse was non-guilty.
But
In the case of his individual actions and choices, he was an absolute fool, young and dumb, for showing up there that day.
Remind yourselves of the fact that his older friend illegally purchased the AR15 for him, a minor, and consider if these guys ever give their choices much thought. His friend faces felony charges for this. Years in prison for what is pretty much a guaranteed guilty verdict. Well deserved.
We have all been 17 years old before, me much more recently compared to the lot of you and I know you all know the ignorant thought processes and aggrandized ego that leads you to believe you 100% know what you're doing, are a big, strong, capable adult, have little humility, and in a case like this, are a superhero in a big cape worthy of praise and attention in an otherwise desperate, hopeless situation.
These two kids at their tender age, thought it would be a good idea - with no formal weapon training, no others they personally knew who were a part of the armed civilian group, and had no connection to the business they claimed to be "protecting" - to place themselves in an area where civil unrest had recently broke out, where rioters and some protestors are guaranteed to have concealed weapons, while they carry long rifles?
Who in the F honestly thinks this would be a good idea? Remember that there were certainly rioters and protesters carrying weapons, who would put their friend, let alone someone this young in that situation? What carelessness!
I believe firmly that neither Rittenhouse nor Black had any solid reason to be there that day. I believe, that when these two hatched an idea to go to Kenosha to help "keep the peace" as part of a makeshift phony civilian defense group in which only one or several more men (and no more) are confirmed to have weapon experience, they knew that they were possibly going to get the chance to use their weapons. Disagree with this? Would you take a long rifle to an area where rioting had taken place the night before, and not consider the fairly great possibility that you might have the chance to use your weapon? What worse an individual to begin to see this possibility than a minor with no sense, just his ego and ignorance to lead him on this path?
Again I say, both Rittenhouse and his friend, Black, knew just what they were getting themselves into. First, the eldest of two years - Dominick Black, illegally purchased a firearm for a minor four months prior (events in Kenosha were unprecedented at this time; but still stupid as hell). They then decide for no solid reason to join a group of armed civilians they found online, with no personal connections within the group mind you, to head to an area of unrest with a semi-automatic rifle with a guaranteed knowledge that there may be a chance to prove themselves as "saviors" and "heroes" by defending local businesses owned by innocent people of that town. Their ignorance, foolishness, and overblown sense of self worth led them to believe they had a place there and would get a chance to play "big guy" for a day or two. Tell me this doesn't sum up a teenager's thought process, and that you may have recognized this behavior and thought process upon recollection of your youth? I'd hope so.
I wish he and his friend reckon this ignorance. He has gotten all smug after the acquittal, and I hope reality sets in for him soon, lives were lost. He had no real reason to be there, even if you could argue that the armed civilians were necessary (which they weren't) then Rittenhouse and his friend, as young as they were, should have stayed out, -2 people with guns won't make a difference.
Per the choice of one individual, in Rittenhouse's case, his absence there may have in a way avoided the death of 2 people; asides the one handsomehunk who fired a pistol into the air for no reason right before Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse was the only one to fire shots that night in the whole damn town. Yes it was self-defense, but had he been absent, he would not have fired these shots into 3 people right? See where I'm coming from?
I weep for all loss of life, regardless of who took offense, death is not good. None of this should have happened, and I wish Rittenhouse pays the price in some form for realizing the loss of life was an unnecessary event, due to him stupidly deciding to be there. He will learn one way or the other, if he is lucky enough to mature.
