Rittenhouse Case About More Than “Not Guilty”

Kyle Rittenhouse immediately following jury decision in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Photo courtesy Lynnwood Times.

 

After deliberation for three weeks the jury acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, November 19th. Judge Bruce Schroeder asked the jury if they had reached a verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse case before them. They responded they had. The judge clarified “one verdict and one verdict only?” They responded that they reached a verdict, and handed their paperwork to the judge.

While all eyes may have been on Rittenhouse and the courtroom drama, the Rittenhouse case was about more than Kyle Rittenhouse on trial for going to defend his community against terrorists and rioters. This was the entire American justice system on trial and whether or not we still have the rule of law. The trial was also about whether or not Americans can still use self-defense and the means, like firearms, to protect themselves and their loved ones.

The jury deliberated long and intently, and spoke loud and clear. They were not heeding biased reports, twisted reasoning, slanted dominant media or communist ideology to make their decision.

After perusing the paperwork Judge Schroeder handed the jury findings to the clerk and she read them aloud in the court. Five counts were read. In each count the jury found defendant Kyle Rittenhouse, “Not Guilty”. Thus, the jury confirmed what Rittenhouse had argued since the beginning, that the men he shot had attacked him. Even though Rittenhouse was trying to run away from the confrontation, he could not escape his pursuers.

The video shows he was backed into a corner in one instance with a man pursuing him who had already threatened to kill him. In another instance he was flat on his back being pounded by a skateboard, again with no way to get up and run. And the final attack was by a man who presented a firearm to his face with no way to run. Only when boxed in in fear of his life did he fire in self-defense of his life. This is very clear on the videos attached below and in the links. It is also very clear that the crowd in Kenosha was bent on causing terror, burning, vandalizing, inflicting pain, destruction, looting, and causing injury to anybody and everything that was an obstacle in them doing so. It was noted that “the mob went from business to business, breaking in and looting”. Rittenhouse was in their way and if he had not acted to defend himself, it is very likely his funeral would have been held held last year.

Each charge carried a separate penalty as follows:

• Count 1: First-degree reckless homicide in the death of Rosenbaum. Possible prison sentence of 60 years.
• Count 2: First-degree recklessly endangering safety by putting witness Richie McGinniss in the line of fire during the Rosenbaum shooting. Possible prison sentence 12 1/2 years.
• Count 3: First-degree recklessly endangering safety for firing two shots at an unknown male. Possible prison sentence 12 1/2 years behind bars.
• Count 4: First-degree intentional homicide for killing Anthony Huber. This carried a mandatory life sentence. But the judge allowed the jury to also consider lesser homicide or reckless-homicide charges in the death.
• Count 5: Attempted first-degree intentional homicide for shooting Grosskreutz in the arm seconds after he shot Huber. The charge carried 60 years in prison, though the jury was allowed to consider lesser charges.

 

As the clerk read the charges against him and declared “not guilty”, you could plainly see the emotional relief  starting to grow within Rittenhouse as each charge was dismissed. It was also plain to see that the jury recognized the clear difference between vigilantism and that Rittenhouse was clearly defending himself against attack by radical Black Lives Matter and Antifa rioters in the riotous summer of 2020.

Some have made comment that Rittenhouse was too young to carry a firearm. It is legal to carry any legal firearm openly in Wisconsin. Wisconsin state law also allowed carrying a long arm at age sixteen, but not ownership until age 18.

The judge said that he “couldn’t have asked for a better jury to work with.” He mentioned their attentiveness and cooperation in working with the court. The Judge said that their decision “justifies the confidence that the founders of our country placed in you”.

Although Kyle Rittenhouse fatally shot two attackers and wounded a third during riotous demonstrations in Wisconsin last year, he had to defend himself against a twisted dominant media hell bent on condemning him before he ever went to trial. The not guilty verdict is a testament to the jury for properly weighing evidence versus the dominant media hype, feeding frenzy that all but actually crucified Rittenhouse for over a year.

Rittenhouse, a white 17 year old teenager at the time of the incident, was chased, threatened and assaulted by at least three men before he defended himself for fear of his life. Of the three men, all were convicted felons.

Journalist Andy Ngo reported that “Rosenbaum was a registered sex offender for a sex crime involving a minor”. By definition he was a pedophile.

Ngo also Tweeted that “Anthony Huber, 26, was shot & killed in Kenosha, Wisc. at the BLM riot. He was filmed chasing down the armed teen and hitting him when he was on the ground with a skateboard. He has a criminal history that includes charges of battery & repeat domestic abuse.”

Finally Ngo Tweeted that “The third who was shot (& survived) is Gaige Grosskreutz, 26. He’s a member of the People’s Revolution Movement. He was filmed chasing after the teen w/a pistol. He was shot at close-range in the upper arm. He has a criminal record that includes being intoxicated & armed w/a gun.” In the Tweet below it is recorded that he regrets not killing Rittenhouse. Also, the People’s Revolution Movement is one of thousands of Communist organizations throughout the United States.

This all happened after Wisconsin governor order police to “stand down” and allow radical communist based Black Lives Matter and Antifa gangs to gather and burn down much of Kenosha, Wisconsin. It is reported that both these groups “seek to bring down the United States by means of violence and intimidation.” That is the definition of “terrorism” and that’s what it appears that Rittenhouse had come to prevent at his grandparents used car lot.

 

 

 

Last August 25, 2020, Rittenhouse was threatened, assaulted, and chased until he was boxed into a corner by a man who said he was going to kill him. He showed great restraint after being struck in the head with a skateboard twice, hit and kicked in the head and having a pistol pointed in his face. He finally defended himself from immanent threat. In fear for his life he shot three attackers: Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, now 27.

 

Here is a different view of the same scene.

 

In the probable cause portion of the criminal complaint, Assistant District Attorney Carli McNeill outlined what investigators believe happened based on numerous videos that were reviewed and a witness account from Daily Caller reporter Richard McGinnis.

The criminal complaint describes the events surrounding the first shooting at the Car Source parking lot as follows:

In the first video, a male who was later identified to be Kyle H. Rittenhouse … (hereinafter “the defendant”), is running southwest across the eastern portion of the Car Source parking lot. … Following the defendant is [Joseph] Rosenbaum and trailing behind the defendant and Rosenbaum is a male who was later identified as Richard McGinnis, a reporter.

The video shows that as they cross the parking lot, Rosenbaum appears to throw an object at the defendant. The object does not hit the defendant and a second video shows, based on where the object landed, that it was a plastic bag. Rosenbaum appears to be unarmed for the duration of this video. A review of the second video shows that the defendant and Rosenbaum continue to move across the parking lot and approach the front of a black car parked in the lot. A loud bang is heard on the video, then a male shouts, “F**k you!”, then Rosenbaum appears to continue to approach the defendant and gets in near proximity to the defendant when 4 more loud bangs are heard. Rosenbaum then falls to the ground.

 

In the final analysis, the Rittenhouse case was about the rule of law, and whether or not we still have any rule of law left in the US, versus allowing street thugs, gangs and rioters to run the streets unbridled and terrorizing everyday citizens. The jury said, ‘No’ to street thug lawlessness. There are rules for society and how those who live in society must conduct themselves. Yes, there is governmental overreach many times, this was not one of those cases.

To have a civilized society, normal citizens and families must have the ability to live and act in reasonable safety or you don’t have a civilized society. Where lawlessness abounds you don’t have a normal society where there is reasonable security for life and liberty. Lawlessness breeds violence, where the strongest, biggest and most armed can topple the neighborhood or town and where those thugs demand citizens bring the thug whatever he wants. You see this thuggery throughout the continent of Africa, in South America and many third world countries.

Lawlessness is where mobs rule by their rules, not the rules of a civilized Christian Bible based and founded society. I have personally witnessed sheriff department captured video of gangs in Mexico and on the Texas border where people are murdered wholesale over gang ‘territorial claims’. Look around the world and you will see that is true in many places.

The rule of law is indicative of a republic like ours and how it is supposed to work. A place where law prevails over favoritism, and all must follow the law or suffer the penalties. The terrorizing thugs who burned the city of Kenosha last year is how third world countries ruled by lawless thugs and mobs is run. It’s where one gang wants to rule over another gang and they’re willing to burn down the town, the businesses and murder the citizens to prove they deserve to be in charge.

Presidents, Governors, Mayors, or any elected official who allow that behavior are accomplices to the crimes they commit and in my opinion should be held liable for any and all injuries, deaths, property damage, or other mayhem caused by allowing the lawless free run of any city or state because they condoned their behavior.

The Scriptures warn us at Psalm 50 verse 18, that “When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.” In other words the observer of crimes did not call for the sheriff or police to enforce the law. Rather he ignored the crime as ‘I’m not getting involved’, agreed that the crime was ok to commit, or actually participated in the crime with the lawbreaker. In any case, by either ignoring his responsibility to be a watchman and warn the lawless or call the law enforcer, he agreed with the criminal in the commission of the crimes he was involved in and must be held to account and liability of that crime just as if he committed the crime himself, because in actuality he did commit the crime.

The scriptures also say at Romans 2:21–23, that “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?”

And finally, Jesus said at Luke 11:46, “Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.”

 

By the jury bringing back a “Not Guilty” verdict the self-defense rights of multitudes of citizens across the country were again guaranteed. Simply put, rioters, terrorists and lawless people do not have a greater right than other citizens to protect life, liberty and property. The Wisconsin jury basically stated that if someone has threatened your life through assault, chases you with intent to battery, hits you with a potentially lethal weapon, puts a gun in your face you have the right to protect and defend yourself against injury and potential death if you believe your life is in danger. Everything depends on intent. What are the intentions of the assailant? The jury determined that Rittenhouse had correctly assessed the intent and was justified in using lethal force against those assailants.

No one wants to pull the trigger on anyone, but the jury declared that if your life is at risk, you can and should be able to defend yourself. That is only one purpose of the Second Amendment guarantee, where it guarantees the right to to keep and bear arms to the citizenry and prohibits any government from preventing that ownership or use.

This editor’s advice is if you own a firearm and intend to ever have to defend yourself go through proper firearms training. Yes, it’ll cost you a few bucks but well worth the training. Then go to the range on a regular basis and practice. “Warning shots” as suggested by the current resident of the White House are wrong headed, dangerous and may be a violation of the law—don’t do that.

 

Michael Reed is Editor and Publisher of The Standard newspaper, print and online, and TheStandardSC YouTube channel where many video reports may be found. Please share freely and donate to The Standard on this page to assure the continued availability of news that is ignored too often by the dominant media.

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