Current Affairs General US politics (ie, not POTUS related)

[TN Toffee]

Old Tweet, but still feels pretty relevant given the response to yesterday’s verdict.

 

[TimHowardsBeardJuice]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/11/16/rittenhouse-trial-self-defense/

This is a very good read on how the law worked here

Of course this ignores the context but jurors are supposed to disregard the larger societal issues at play snd focus on the facts at hand. The outcome here is disgusting but the principle is bedrock.

These 12 people at this point in time did their jobs. they’re ultimately not responsible for the sickness in our society that is the backdrop.

 

[TimHowardsBeardJuice]

It’s just madness that the part where he traveled out of state to an already tense protest, picked up a weapon of war on his way and then antagonized protestors by openly walking around with said weapon of war doesn’t factor into the equation. It seems to me that somewhere along that line terrible decisions the law should shift into “you’ve messed with the bull, now if you get the horns, that’s your fault” territory.

Yes

 

[Tony101]

These are both true.

This boy disgusts me but give the way the law is written and the very high standard of proof the prosecution had to meet I did not think they’d be able to convict on the most serious charges.

The law is not evenly applied, never has been, if this kid is black, history says it’s a different outcome, but that’s an issue of the way the law is applied in practice. I would not be so quick as to change the law as some on my side of the fence have suggested. I’m not sure making prosecution easier is the unqualified good it seems.

That the cop was not indicted for shooting Jacob Blake 7x in the back is inexcusable and that’s what led to the unrest here.

No matter that the verdict makes sense on yge narrow legal questions, the larger points that 1) you can evidently carry a rifle around, looking for a pretext to use it (let’s be real, the kid wanted to shoot someone), and face no consequence 2) that he’s now a celebrity, these things make me sick and very afraid for my country. Please know that we are all not like this snd that there are so many good things about the USA and it’s people. But i am in despair tonight.

Jacob Blake is still alive, not dead. And he was shot by police because he had a knife, refused to drop it, and a woman he’d sexually assaulted called police asking for protection.

 

[ChesterBlue]

If the shoe was on the other foot, and he was black and protesting for BLM there is no way in a million years he gets found not guilty.

I’m properly disgusted by this verdict.

 

[BlueToff]

What a bullshit claim. Kyle was giving out medical aid at the site of the riots and he was there to protect the businesses in Kenosha.

Didn't he travel into another state with a weapon? Seems to happen a lot in the US.

 

[BlueToff]

If the shoe was on the other foot, and he was black and protesting for BLM there is no way in a million years he gets found not guilty.

I’m properly disgusted by this verdict.

There are a lot of people just assuming guilt of murder because of how it went down though.

The people he shot weren't just protestors. That doesn't make it right, but it seemed the prosecution couldn't prove it was murder/pre-meditated murder.

You're right that if the shoe was on the other foot history tells us the outcome would have been different and that's incredibly sad too.

 

[bluelife]

Bonkers how you can get away on self defence after seeking out the violence in the first place. Absolute madness the more you think about it.

 

[ChesterBlue]

There are a lot of people just assuming guilt of murder because of how it went down though.

The people he shot weren't just protestors. That doesn't make it right, but it seemed the prosecution couldn't prove it was murder/pre-meditated murder.

You're right that if the shoe was on the other foot history tells us the outcome would have been different and that's incredibly sad too.

He went to a protest he disagreed with armed with a assault rifle though. That context alone should be enough to suggest there was an element of pre-meditation to his actions.

Let’s face it, if he was black he wouldn’t even have been on trail as the police would’ve shot him on the spot

 

[BlueToff]

He went to a protest he disagreed with armed with a assault rifle though. That context alone should be enough to suggest there was an element of pre-meditation to his actions.

Let’s face it, if he was black he wouldn’t even have been on trail as the police would’ve shot him on the spot

I agree mate, but it seems the prosecution couldn't prove it.

The issue is bigger than this scumbag, or the scumbags he shot, it's that country and its obsession with guns. It'll never change. Throw extra fuel to the fire like the BLM protests last year (and riots, looting etc) then add in guns and rednecks on top of that...

 

[Prevenger17]

The issue is bigger than this scumbag, or the scumbags he shot

You could argue one was a scumbag, but I'm interested why you think the guy with the skateboard and the EMT are scumbags?

 

[JimmyJeffers]

So many faux hard men in this thread

 

[PhilM]

the

So many faux hard men in this thread

I think the biggest part, and without wanting to offend, is that many people don’t understand how criminal law actually works in terms of burden of proof.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

the

I think the biggest part, and without wanting to offend, is that many people don’t understand how criminal law actually works in terms of burden of proof.

I mean that’s fair enough. It’s more the lack of empathy towards the victims and their families that I find weird.

 

[sageyefc]

Like spot the right winger in here