Kyle Rittenhouse, who was charged with first-degree intentional murder, first-degree reckless murder and attempted murder, was acquitted this month of all charges. Rittenhouse was 17 at the time he shot and killed two men and injured a third, and he faced a misdemeanor charge for the illegal possession of a firearm by a minor.

However, testimony from Rittenhouse and Gaige Grosskreutz (the surviving witness) along with video evidence from the night of the shooting all presented extremely strong support for Rittenhouse’s claim of self-defense. Moreover, shortly before the trial concluded, Judge Bruce Schroeder dismissed the weapons charge, as it was not applicable to Rittenhouse under Wisconsin law.

Thanks to the merits of the evidence presented, and some good old fashioned grace and mercy from the Lord, justice prevailed. Rittenhouse is a free young man, and I couldn’t be happier for him!

Yet, even as I celebrate and wholeheartedly agree with the jury’s verdict, I do take particular issue with Rittenhouse for being in his predicament in the first place.