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Jurors made a serious mistake when they delivered a not guilty verdict on all charges against Kyle Rittenhouse. And Judge Schroeder paved the way for their decision when he agreed to drop a weapons charge. That charge, a misdemeanor, stated Rittenhouse was a minor in possession of a dangerous weapon when he shot and killed two men on the streets of Kenosha, WI in August 2020. Hours before closing arguments, defense attorneys pointed to an exception in the law that allows minors to carry shotguns and rifles as long as they’re not short-barreled. Rittenhouse’s rifle barrel was longer than 16 inches, the minimum barrel length allowed under state law. Schroeder dismissed the charge… a critical move that helped determine the outcome of the trial. At the same time, we can’t ignore the role of race in this case. What would have happened if Rittenhouse were a Black teenager running through the streets with a rifle in the midst of a protest?
