10-29-2021, 11:46 AM
(10-29-2021, 08:26 AM)Belsnickel Wrote: I know you're being snarky with this post, but in the end I am an institutionalist. Believe me when I say that I know about the attitudes of many about the situation and, quite frankly, it sickens me. I'm not blind to the way parts of the firearm community behave in situations like this. I've dressed down quite a few people lately over their commentary on the Alec Baldwin situation.
Yes, some of that has been way over the top. On the other hand, he's getting way too much of a free pass from many. He was a producer, hence he has much more responsibility for on set safety than someone who is just there acting. He also knowingly ignored long established safety protocols regarding the handling of firearms on set. I'm absolutely not saying, with the evidence available, that he should be charged with negligent homicide, but he is definitely more culpable than many are stating.
Quote:It is with all this in mind that I say what I say. I'm basing my position on the evidence and the law. I don't care about the pathos arguments that both sides are employing. I care about what happened and what the law says about it. The jury may find differently. They may be swayed by the more emotional arguments. That is our system. Hell, the prosecuting attorneys could drop some evidence that Rittenhouse actually demonstrated intent to kill rather than the presumptuous positions everyone seems to be taking on the issue.
You're seeing a perfect microcosm of that here in this thread. The pro-self defense posts in this thread actually address the evidence at hand. The anti-self defense posts tend to be appeals to emotion and, quite honestly, have frequently gotten their facts wrong. As I stated in my second post, I don't know how anyone can look at the evidence at hand through a logical, dispassionate legal lens and not agree with the self defense argument. You see tons of "he shouldn't have been there" and "the cops drove right past him", etc. none of which have any bearing whatsoever on whether Rittenhouse acted in self defense. Even if he is guilty of possessing the firearm illegally that has zero bearing on the argument of self defense.
Quote:Right now, based on the evidence and the law, Rittenhouse should only answer for the charge of illegal possession that he is charged with, not the others. We have a system of innocent until proven guilty in this country, and the illegal possession charge is the only one I have seen proof of his guilt for.
100%
(10-29-2021, 09:06 AM)Nately120 Wrote: I legitimately agree with you. I'm just providing some snarky insight on the latest developments of Americans celebrating the deaths of those politically opposed to them.
20 years ago the enemy was "over there" and now the enemy is next door. This goes beyond one justified shooting and X number of deaths.
It's justified and I'm fine with that. The deeper and more interesting issue is how this adds to what i see as Americans fettishizing the suffering and death of their enemies and the enemies being fellow Americans.
That is certainly a troubling after effect of this incident, and yet another reason why so many people have trouble divorcing their emotions from this case.
