I remember hearing about this the next day and all I could think was "Great, another douchebag white guy goes all Zimmerman on someone and pulls some vigilante justice. WTF is wrong with America?"...
Then I started actually doing some homework and watching videos. I watched as Rittenhouse retreated time and time again. Where he moved away from Rosenbaum, and actually ran from him. Where Rosenbaum was right behind Rittenhouse when Kyle turned and fired his weapon, multiple times, center of mass, just as you should do when defending your life.
I am blown away by those that think a minor may not legally defend themselves. Is that really what you think the law is? I'm not sure people know what the law is. It is actually quite clear they don't. Rittenhouse has, and still has, a legal right to defend himself from a threat, just as you do, just as your wife does, just as your children and parents do. It is LEGAL to defend yourself.
At the end of this, I definitely saw a crap situation which could have been avoided by Rittenhouse just staying home. But, that's the same as telling the rape victim that she shouldn't have worn the tight dress. It's a BS statement. Legally Rittenhouse MAY have avoided the confrontation with Rosenbaum if he didn't have a gun, or perhaps Rittenhouse would be dead at the hands of Rosenbaum. No question, Rosenbaum was being actively aggressive. No question. To the point that I believe the jury will come back quickly in agreement. There are videos that show Rosenbaum chasing down Rittenhouse. There is testimony of others that have Rittenhouse yelling "FRIENDLY!" as he was retreating. There is zero excuse for Rosenbaum being the aggressor in this case.
The only living directly assualted person, said that he was not shot until after he stepped forward, raised, and pointed his gun directly at Rittenhouse.
Think about that for a second. Rittenhouse did not fire at this person until he acted aggressively towards him.
I see a bunch of people, all around, who made some really bad decisions and paid the price for their stupidity all around. Rittenhouse is likely to be scarred for life on this. It's not like he gets to go to bed at night and not realize that he took the lives of two people. I'm saddened by the entire situation.