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Written by Mikaprok. Translated by AlexD exclusively for SouthFront.
“Hands up!”
One of the main media topics of the USA this past quarter century has been the active fight against the free circulation of weapons.
During numerous shootings in 2017-2019, we had time to speculate on the potential of this measure, comparing the possible pros and cons with the expected outcome.
It’s complicated.
Despite the constitutional taboo, traditions and fierce lobbying of the antiquated industry flagships, the vector of public opinion has already turned in the other direction.
In fact, lighter restrictions are being introduced everywhere. Weapons can still be bought, but procedures are getting more complex. Loopholes are being found in state legislation to structure transport, packaging and clearance of guns.
How justified what is happening is an open question.
On the one hand, the cultural level of the mass of newly-born citizens is so different from the recipients of this 200-year-old right that one wonders how they have managed not to kill each other from inexpensive “equalisers” so far.
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On the other hand, any constitutional reduction instantly leads to the restructuring of a huge number of court decisions that have already been made. The law is precedent-setting. One trump card can only be beaten by another. A contrary judicial decision.
We have seen problems with the example of legalisation, and what will happen with weapons, where everything is defined at a different level of responsibility for the health of citizens.
Here, mass shootings in schools may perhaps not be enough. All the more so, educational institutions are gradually moving to a remote mode of operation and cannot be a suitable illustration of the harms of a masculine way of doing things.
In 2020-2021, there was a surge in self-defence street advocacy, moving occasionally from visual threats to direct action.
Shops and restaurants were guarded by menacing-looking volunteers, literally covered from head to toe with ammunition.
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That is, among other things, they prevented BLM representatives and sympathisers from expressing themselves freely, which, you must agree, does not seem like an acceptable prank in the face of public repentance.
The case of Kyle Rittenhouse turned up most opportunely. The loudest (and also the most comical) trial of 2021.
However, all the events took place last season, in the midst of the primaries:
On August 25, 17-year-old Kyle was actively involved in the dispersal of a mob of robbers with his AR-15. Witnesses (from among the looters) claim that the insidious teenager killed two and wounded one of the “peaceful protesters”. Other eyewitnesses who believe that he was saving his life and shot back in response.
The task of the public trials is not at all to find out some kind of truth, but to demonstrate the values of the two opposing sides.
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The process immediately acquired political overtones and has been on the front pages of radical American publications for a week.
Kyle Rittenhouse is also chosen as the embodiment of all the dubious virtues that should be left in the distant past: demonstrative star-spangled patriotism, YMCA, respect for law enforcement, low (alas) intelligence, low social origin and yes, a sincere love for firearms.
The latter point is being made by all those involved in this discussion.
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Now a lot depends on Judge Bruce Schroeder’s reaction to the proposed charade. This is a veteran with almost forty years of experience and a pile of strict sentences under his belt. Old school with respect for constitutional rights and, at the same time, a strong opposition to armed violence. The choice of this figure, as well as the accused, was not arbitrary.
In the event of a decision in favour of the protesters, not too likely given the murky witnesses, but ideologically sustained, the right to self-defence may be severely curtailed. Also, in theory, the very “people’s militia”, of which Rittenhouse was a member, may lose the right to carry firearms.
Keeping our fingers crossed : )
