Justin M. Howard | November 15, 2021
Update: Kyle Rittenhouse Illegal Gun Possession Charge Is Dismissed
It turns out that Kyle Rittenhouse was legally carrying a weapon. The judge has dismissed a count of possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18. Prosecutors were looking to convict on this charge, even though it is only a misdemeanor.
Kyle Rittenhouse, now 18, is on trial as a result of his actions in the wake of protests related to the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse is being charged with 5 felony counts including 3 counts of first-degree homicide and 2 counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. Rittenhouse is also facing a misdemeanor charge – possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18. In the trial so far, the prosecution has only proven the misdemeanor charge. Class A misdemeanors carry a sentence of nine months in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
Who Did Kyle Rittenhouse Kill?
Currently, Rittenhouse faces six charges as a result of his actions on Aug. 25, 2020, in Kenosha, where he was armed with an AR-15 rifle. He killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26. Gaige Grosskreutz was injured and was able to run away.
Rittenhouse’s case is being tried by the court of public opinion, as usual, thanks to social media and media commentators. Various online campaigns have been launched to celebrate Rittenhouse and smear his alleged victims, as others smear Rittenhouse, inject race into the case, or elevate the victims. Both sides of the politically based media are trying to present a false narrative to the public with the truth being somewhere in the middle. Here are 4 Irrational or Incorrect arguments made by the media regarding the Kyle Rittenhouse case.
The View: Kyle goes across state lines with an AR-15 to defend himself against what?
“The guy [Kyle Rittenhouse] goes across state lines with an AR-15 with his mother and some other idiot in the car to defend himself against what? They were having a protest in another state and he takes it upon himself to go there. Then he says it’s self-defense.” Joy Behar
According to the defense, Kyle Rittenhouse responded to a call for help by business owners who wanted to defend their property during the riots. Several of the protesters involved left their hometowns to join in the protest and were also armed. Everyone knew there would be civil unrest, especially with the media portraying BLM protests as violent despite the majority being peaceful.
Joseph Rosenbaum’s Criminal Record – Kyle Rittenhouse Shooting
According to Arizona’s sex offender registry and documentation, Joseph Rosenbaum has a predatory history. A grand jury in Arizona charged and convicted Joseph Rosenbaum with 11 counts of child molestation including inappropriate sexual activity and anal rape. Five boys between the ages of 9 and 11 were the victims and Rosenbaum was sentenced to prison for 15 years.
Rittenhouse should’ve been aware of the dangers, but how or why Rittenhouse placed himself in danger doesn’t eliminate the argument of self defense. In other self-defense cases, many have placed themselves in unsafe circumstances. This doesn’t mean that they didn’t have the right to defend themselves when they were attacked.
CNN: Grosskreutz Didn’t Point His Gun at Kyle Rittenhouse.
“On Good Morning America today you said that you were absolutely not pointing your gun at Rittenhouse, can you clarify that? – Anderson Cooper
Why would the audience need clarification? Video and photographs taken during the protest confirm what Gaige Grosskreutz testified under oath. A gun was in his possession when he lunged at Rittenhouse, and he testified that Rittenhouse didn’t shoot him when his hands were up, but after he pointed his gun at the teen. When Anderson Cooper decided to question a fact instead of just reporting it, this opened the door for Grosskreutz to contradict the evidence and his sworn testimony twice.
Anthony Huber’s Criminal Record – Kyle Rittenhouse Shooting
The Wisconsin Circuit Court online records show Anthony Huber has a history of domestic violence. Huber was arrested on charges of suffocation, strangulation, use of a dangerous weapon, false imprisonment, battery, and disorderly conduct connected to a domestic assault.
Chirafisi: “When you were standing 3 to 5ft from him with your hands up in the air, he never fired, right?
Grosskreutz: Correct.
Chirafisi: It wasn’t until you pointed your gun at him, advanced on him, with your gun hands pointed down at him that he fired, right?
Grosskreutz: Correct.
– Kyle Rittenhouse Trial Transcripts
Fox News: The Rittenhouse victims had criminal records!
“Joseph Rosenbaum died as he had lived, trying to touch an unwilling minor.” – Tucker Carlson
Based on Huber and Rosenbaum’s criminal histories, the assumption is that both men must have attacked Rittenhouse. Fox News and social media users attempt to justify the killings based on this logic, seeming to discredit the belief of the opposing political media – that the men were killed in a heroic act. The reports in the media depicting Rosenbaum’s and Huber’s disturbing criminal backgrounds are true, but their histories have no basis in court and don’t shed light on the reason they were shot. It is possible to be a hero in one moment and a criminal in the next and plausible that both men assumed the teen was a mass shooter. This doesn’t dismiss Rittenhouse’s ability to claim self-defense if he felt his life was threatened.
Joe Biden Twitter: Rittenhouse is a white supremacist.
President Joe Biden posted this comment on Twitter including a video clip of Kyle Rittenhouse after the presidential debate with Donald Trump.
“There’s no other way to put it: The President of the United States refused to disavow white supremacists on the debate stage last night.”
After Joe Biden tweeted a video clip suggesting Kyle Rittenhouse is a white supremacist, attorneys for the teenager said that they plan to sue the Biden campaign for libel. A political figure posting information with no basis or proof helps drive a false narrative to the public.