Kyle Rittenhouse’s attorneys are arguing that hunting regulations are what permitted him to carry the assault rifle used in the shootings.
At a hearing on Tuesday, his attorney claimed that although Wisconsin law bans anybody under the age of 18 from possessing a firearm, they contended that the statute only prohibits minors from possessing short-barreled rifles and shotguns. The other child-related limitations are under hunting regulations, which state that children under the age of 12 are not allowed to hunt with guns.
On August 25, 2020, Rittenhouse was 17 years old when he decided to fatally shoot two men and wounded another with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle during a protest following an unarmed Black man getting shot by police.
The Chicago Tribune reported that defense attorney Corey Chirafisi said “There appears to be an exception for 17-year-olds.”
Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger argued that the defense should be able to inform the jury that Rittenhouse was merely hunting.
According to the newspaper, “they can submit evidence that the defendant had a certificate to hunt and he was engaged in legal hunting on the streets of Kenosha that night,” Binger said.
Rittenhouse is being charged with homicide, attempted homicide, and having a firearm while under the age of 18.
Judge Bruce Schroeder of Kenosha County rejected a defense petition to dismiss the weapons possession charge, citing “unclear” state statutes and stating that he would investigate the laws and return to the case later.
John Black, a use-of-force expert spoke about how Rittenhouse exercised self-defense.
Black testified that the video showed Rittenhouse using self-defense. He claims that’s Rosenbaum followed Rittenhouse and tried to reach for his gun, and that Huber attacked Rittenhouse with a skateboard while attempting to take away his gun, and that Grosskreutz ran at Rittenhouse with a pistol in his hand.
“A citizen in that position, given those indicators, would it be reasonable for them to believe they were about to be assaulted?” Black said. “I would argue yes.”
The attorneys for Rittenhouse want Black to testify during the trial. Schroeder held off on making a decision on the subject on Tuesday.
The trial is set to start on November 1st.
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