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[–]lefterfield 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (9 children)

If that article is accurate, then Kyle is an idiot, but his actions after the argument escalated are understandable and likely legally justified.

[–]FediNetizen 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (8 children)

I mentioned it in a different comment, but the one thing this article gets wrong is the claim that his possession of the rifle was illegal. It was not. Under Wisconsin state law the code on "minors in possession of a weapon" section that the author thinks he violated would have only applied if Kyle were under 16. As Kyle was 17, his possession was legal.

Though to be clear, I still totally agree with you that the kid was an idiot for being there.

[–]lefterfield 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

Yeah, I saw that. He still shouldn't have been there, but legally, doesn't sound like he(or his mother) did anything wrong.

[–]OrneryStruggle 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

why shouldn't he have been there?

if he were a black PRO-BLM field medic would you still be saying he shouldn't have been there?

[–]lefterfield 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

Yes. I don't think a 17 year old is emotionally mature enough to be in that situation, and I believe the presence of people with guns on both sides escalated the situation to a point where it didn't need to go.

[–]OrneryStruggle 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

TBF the 30-40somethings there were clearly not emotionally mature enough to be in the situation, but he was. I've never been pro-gun but watching the video of the altercation was absolutely amazing as this child showed extreme restraint, calm and quick thinking in a situation that could have turned deadly for him. He avoided shooting at/injuring anyone who wasn't directly causing a threat to his life at the moment (apparently that reporter was in his line of fire behind his aggressor but didn't get hit) and immediately turned himself in to police after running away. That's a level of clearheadedness that you don't see from cops or army or people way older and better trained with weapons than he was.

I agree that in general children should be kept away from violent riots/protests but at the moment they are not, and it is common for people to bring even their small children to such events. I find it curious that this PARTICULAR child was apparently too young to be somewhere with a gun while the hundreds of other minors at riots (many with weapons) have been given a pass until now and people like myself saying it's inappropriate to bring small children to riots have been mocked as conservatives/puritans until now. Not saying you were one of those people, but I'm suddenly seeing this argument everywhere when I never saw it before.

He also had firefighting training, EMT training (he was there working as a medic) and a job as a lifeguard, so he had relevant skills he thought he could use at the protest.

[–]lefterfield 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

I agree that this 17 year old showed far more emotional maturity and restraint than would be expected of anyone of that age(certainly more so than the adults that were there chasing him). Watching the videos, I can point to many things the people who were shot should have done differently, but not to anything that he did wrong once he was there. I still don't agree that he should have been there, which is the same as I would say for anyone of that age and younger. Most of what I think about this kid particularly is sympathy, cause I don't have the impression that he was looking for a fight or wanted to hurt anyone - but now, two people are dead and he'll have to live with public condemnation for the rest of his life. His actions were justified, and hopefully the court will agree, but that's still a lot of potential guilt and trauma to put on someone who's barely considered an adult.

[–]OrneryStruggle 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

in that case I agree, but I'm bothered by the double standard that has kept everyone I know silent on the numerous children (many armed with automatic rifles, ironically, as in CHAZ) who have been involved in protests since Floyd's death but made them suddenly speak out on this particular 17 year old being at a protest. I am not implying you are one of those people, but this is really the first time I have seen this argument made by leftists and I'm surprised it's coming up suddenly.

Personally I think any non-adult should be kept away from protests/riots that are or are likely to turn violent, so I agree with you in principle. I don't think his mom had any say in him going though, as I understand it he went straight from work and after-work volunteerism, so I doubt she was involved in taking him.

[–]lefterfield 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I heard she did drive him, was that not true? But I agree, and I feel the same way about children being armed at any protest.

[–]OrneryStruggle 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

AFAIK she drove him across state lines to work, since he worked in Wisconsin. Don't quote me on this, I'm not 100% sure, but according to his lawyer's statement I think she drove him to Wisconsin where he worked as a lifeguard, he got off work and went to his volunteerism "job" cleaning graffiti, then went directly with a friend to the protest in response to a call for protection from a car dealership that had dealt with multiple arson attempts the previous day. I don't think his mom was involved in the job > volunteerism > protest part of the day, just initially driving him to work.

I might be wrong though, but she apparently didn't drive the gun across state lines and he got it from someone he was volunteering with as I understand it, so doubtful that she drove him to the protest directly.