I have one more thing to add to the list -- do not get out of jury duty just because you can. Serve. I have served on three jurys, and in one case, I am quite sure we saved an innocent young man of color from going to prison.
The man who obtained the rifle and gave it to Rittenhouse has been charged with two counts of "intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a person under age 18 - Causing death." It's a Class H felony, punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000 or not more than 6 years in prison, or both. This is an example of the right law, but too many exceptions and excuses. How many times have we heard, when a child dies because a loaded gun was left where the child could find it, "The parents have suffered enough already, let's not prosecute"? A law that's not enforced serves no useful purpose.
Given that Black testified at Rittenhouse's trial, I suspect he has cut a deal to avoid punishment.
"The gun Rittenhouse used in the shootings was provided by his friend, 20-year-old Dominick Black of Racine, Wis., after Rittenhouse arrived in Kenosha, according to a criminal complaint.
"According to the complaint: Black bought the rifle for Rittenhouse in May 2020, using money from Rittenhouse, and they agreed the rifle would be stored at Black’s stepfather’s house in Kenosha. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, was too young to legally buy the gun in Wisconsin.
"At Rittenhouse’s trial, Black testified that he bought the rifle for Rittenhouse and that they shot target practice together in a rural area.
"On the day of the shootings, Black testified, Black invited Rittenhouse to join him at the Kenosha protest to protect a car dealership. Before they went to the protest, Black testified that they went together to the home of Black’s stepfather to get Rittenhouse’s gun."
The death throes of white male supremacy are being manifested through violence, changing laws, suppressing participation, generating fear, all in anticipation of protecting minority control over what soon will be the majority and the right is getting away with a lot of this.
Everything is about the next election cycle. Turnout is going to have to be so big as to overwhelm all roadblocks, machinations, intimidations, accusations of fraud. Some things on this list can be worked on now but much of it is going to depend on what happens next year. Polling on individual parts of Biden's agenda is largely positive while his numbers are not. It will be messaging and organizing for the vote that will make the difference. Winning the midterms is the only thing that matters now.
BTW, Rittenhouse, who posed with some proud boys, said in an interview that he supports "Black Lives Matter". I don't know what's worse, him being some kind of manipulative monster or him being a dim witted, amoral vessel. It appears he's the latter and the likes of Trump, Carlson, Gosar, Gaetz, etc. can't wait to fill him back up. To me, his future looks pretty dark.
It does. And you raise an interesting issue, death throes of white male supremacy. I’ve thought about that, white supremacy, and how it’s baked in and how hard it is to remove it or even have people agree to acknowledge it.
There should be laws against anyone other than law enforcement or employed security guards possessing a gun within some defined distance of specific locations or events. E.g. school grounds; town, state, federal property; speakers/concerts/rallys/protests with over some defined number of people in attendance. Civilians are not trained to keep order and should not take on that role with the threat of lethal force, and there should be laws against it.
A 20 year old should not be able to purchase a gun to begin with. (They aren't even trusted to buy alcohol fer crying out loud!) Anyone under 21 should not be able to use or possess a gun unless with a parent or legal guardian.
And YES to strengthening voting rights & YES to stopping the gerrymandering!
Perhaps it's time to use a 3 panel judge system on high profile cases or when a judge is accused of being biased (though it may not be feasible). This was an example where the judge appeared to be biased.
Doing nothing is not an option. Something needs to change to bring about a more just system. The frustrating question I have is, how do good ideas get implemented when many of those in power prefer to fighting one another over solving problems?
I have one more thing to add to the list -- do not get out of jury duty just because you can. Serve. I have served on three jurys, and in one case, I am quite sure we saved an innocent young man of color from going to prison.
I was never called until I left the Courant. I was not ultimately selected, but I was anxious to serve. It's really interesting.
Apparently, getting selected for jury duty is my superpower. I am going to use it. :)
The man who obtained the rifle and gave it to Rittenhouse has been charged with two counts of "intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a person under age 18 - Causing death." It's a Class H felony, punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000 or not more than 6 years in prison, or both. This is an example of the right law, but too many exceptions and excuses. How many times have we heard, when a child dies because a loaded gun was left where the child could find it, "The parents have suffered enough already, let's not prosecute"? A law that's not enforced serves no useful purpose.
Given that Black testified at Rittenhouse's trial, I suspect he has cut a deal to avoid punishment.
"The gun Rittenhouse used in the shootings was provided by his friend, 20-year-old Dominick Black of Racine, Wis., after Rittenhouse arrived in Kenosha, according to a criminal complaint.
"According to the complaint: Black bought the rifle for Rittenhouse in May 2020, using money from Rittenhouse, and they agreed the rifle would be stored at Black’s stepfather’s house in Kenosha. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, was too young to legally buy the gun in Wisconsin.
"At Rittenhouse’s trial, Black testified that he bought the rifle for Rittenhouse and that they shot target practice together in a rural area.
"On the day of the shootings, Black testified, Black invited Rittenhouse to join him at the Kenosha protest to protect a car dealership. Before they went to the protest, Black testified that they went together to the home of Black’s stepfather to get Rittenhouse’s gun."
https://fox11digital.com/news/PDFs/Criminal-Complaint-Dominick-Black.pdf
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/nov/15/viral-image/kyle-rittenhouses-mother-did-not-bring-him-kenosha/
So the gun buyer was charged....but the shooter walked.
So far. The buyer could walk, too, if he made a deal with the state.
Good point, dammit.
The death throes of white male supremacy are being manifested through violence, changing laws, suppressing participation, generating fear, all in anticipation of protecting minority control over what soon will be the majority and the right is getting away with a lot of this.
Everything is about the next election cycle. Turnout is going to have to be so big as to overwhelm all roadblocks, machinations, intimidations, accusations of fraud. Some things on this list can be worked on now but much of it is going to depend on what happens next year. Polling on individual parts of Biden's agenda is largely positive while his numbers are not. It will be messaging and organizing for the vote that will make the difference. Winning the midterms is the only thing that matters now.
BTW, Rittenhouse, who posed with some proud boys, said in an interview that he supports "Black Lives Matter". I don't know what's worse, him being some kind of manipulative monster or him being a dim witted, amoral vessel. It appears he's the latter and the likes of Trump, Carlson, Gosar, Gaetz, etc. can't wait to fill him back up. To me, his future looks pretty dark.
It does. And you raise an interesting issue, death throes of white male supremacy. I’ve thought about that, white supremacy, and how it’s baked in and how hard it is to remove it or even have people agree to acknowledge it.
I don't know law, but here I go with suggestions.
There should be laws against anyone other than law enforcement or employed security guards possessing a gun within some defined distance of specific locations or events. E.g. school grounds; town, state, federal property; speakers/concerts/rallys/protests with over some defined number of people in attendance. Civilians are not trained to keep order and should not take on that role with the threat of lethal force, and there should be laws against it.
A 20 year old should not be able to purchase a gun to begin with. (They aren't even trusted to buy alcohol fer crying out loud!) Anyone under 21 should not be able to use or possess a gun unless with a parent or legal guardian.
And YES to strengthening voting rights & YES to stopping the gerrymandering!
Perhaps it's time to use a 3 panel judge system on high profile cases or when a judge is accused of being biased (though it may not be feasible). This was an example where the judge appeared to be biased.
Doing nothing is not an option. Something needs to change to bring about a more just system. The frustrating question I have is, how do good ideas get implemented when many of those in power prefer to fighting one another over solving problems?
Amen. Doing nothing is not an option. We can't keep going down this road.