EDITORIAL Kyle Rittenhouse verdict sends a chilling message to Wisconsin and the rest of the country Wisconsin State Journal editorial board Nov 21, 2021 Nov 21, 2021 Updated Apr 29, 2026 × Geske, a former state Supreme Court justice, introduces herself as one of the Wisconsin State Journal's new community editorial board members Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save This wasn’t the message Wisconsin or our nation needed to hear, even if the jury correctly followed the law.kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\2?5\C68:@?2=^;FCJ\7:?5D\<J=6\C:EE6?9@FD6\?@E\8F:=EJ^2CE:4=60eec`aaea\e7_a\d432\37de\757`2g5f24e4]9E>=REC24<:?8\D@FC46l9@>6\3C62<:?8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%66?286C zJ=6 #:EE6?9@FD6 H2D 24BF:EE65 @? 2== 492C86Dk^2m uC:52J :? 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Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Ruben Navarrette: Conservatives who support Kyle Rittenhouse no longer know what they believe Why don't they apply the same logic they use for the human tragedy at the U.S.-Mexico border? Ion Meyn: What the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict means for carrying open firearms in Wisconsin If an unarmed protester fails to submit to an armed civilian’s order to halt, can he shoot? It seems so. Clarence Page: Waukesha tragedy calls for serious bail reform, not finger-pointing Absolutely nothing is funny about the horrors that abruptly ended Waukesha’s Christmas parade. But Mary Lemanski gave it a try, for which she … Amy Swearer: Race-baiting Kyle Rittenhouse narratives don’t survive scrutiny The idea that self-defense is a legal justification largely for white Americans and that no jury would ever acquit defendants of color who cla… 7 lessons about US gun laws from the Rittenhouse verdict and Arbery murder — John Donohue As the country awaits a U.S. Supreme Court decision in a New York state case that may create a federal constitutional right to carry guns outs… Close the Rittenhouse gun loophole so minors with rifles can't parade down our streets STATE JOURNAL VIEW: Exception to state law should let minors hunt, not patrol city streets with loaded rifles Meet the Wisconsin State Journal's new editorial board STATE JOURNAL VIEW: Community members will add insight and expertise to our news organization's opinions and agenda. Watch now: Meet Janine Geske Geske, a former state Supreme Court justice, introduces herself as one of the Wisconsin State Journal's new community editorial board members Watch now: Meet Wayne Strong Strong, a former Madison police lieutenant and longtime youth football coach, introduces himself as one of the Wisconsin State Journal's new c… Watch now: Meet Susan Schmitz Schmitz, the Downtown Madison dynamo whose great-grandfather opened a store on the Capitol Square in 1898, introduces herself as one of the Wi… Analysis: Here's why Kyle Rittenhouse is likely to be acquitted — and why the law on self-defense must change If the jury acquits Kyle Rittenhouse, then they will be doing what the law requires them to do. That should prompt us to ask why the law dicta… Rex Huppke: Guilty or innocent, Kyle Rittenhouse should disgust us all Nobody should want untrained teen vigilantes patrolling with illegally obtained guns Cases highlight white privilege -- Bill Walters Like Ahmaud Arbery, I have stopped to check out home construction sites several times. Like Arbery, I have walked on a site with no construct… Bringing a gun to a riot isn't wise -- Valerie Leffler If you go bird watching you take binoculars. If you go mushroom hunting you take a sack or two. To go deer hunting you take a gun. Blame government for deaths, not guns -- Antony Thompson Monday's State Journal article "Verdict won't end enduring debate" was wrong to put "guns" center stage in the Kenosha riots situation that le… The scariest things about Wisconsin politics Watch Now: Related Video Trump unveils $500 rebate checks in ‘Great Healthcare Plan’ US-Iran war: US military aircraft damaged in strikes at Jordan air base US-Iran war: US military aircraft damaged in strikes at Jordan air base Top stories for Sept. 10, 2026 Top stories for Sept. 10, 2026 Top stories for Sept. 10, 2026 Top stories for Sept. 10, 2026 Watch Now: Related Video Trump unveils $500 rebate checks in ‘Great Healthcare Plan’ US-Iran war: US military aircraft damaged in strikes at Jordan air base US-Iran war: US military aircraft damaged in strikes at Jordan air base Top stories for Sept. 10, 2026 Top stories for Sept. 10, 2026 Top stories for Sept. 10, 2026 Top stories for Sept. 10, 2026
Ruben Navarrette: Conservatives who support Kyle Rittenhouse no longer know what they believe Why don't they apply the same logic they use for the human tragedy at the U.S.-Mexico border?
Ion Meyn: What the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict means for carrying open firearms in Wisconsin If an unarmed protester fails to submit to an armed civilian’s order to halt, can he shoot? It seems so.
Clarence Page: Waukesha tragedy calls for serious bail reform, not finger-pointing Absolutely nothing is funny about the horrors that abruptly ended Waukesha’s Christmas parade. But Mary Lemanski gave it a try, for which she …
Amy Swearer: Race-baiting Kyle Rittenhouse narratives don’t survive scrutiny The idea that self-defense is a legal justification largely for white Americans and that no jury would ever acquit defendants of color who cla…
7 lessons about US gun laws from the Rittenhouse verdict and Arbery murder — John Donohue As the country awaits a U.S. Supreme Court decision in a New York state case that may create a federal constitutional right to carry guns outs…
Close the Rittenhouse gun loophole so minors with rifles can't parade down our streets STATE JOURNAL VIEW: Exception to state law should let minors hunt, not patrol city streets with loaded rifles
Meet the Wisconsin State Journal's new editorial board STATE JOURNAL VIEW: Community members will add insight and expertise to our news organization's opinions and agenda.
Watch now: Meet Janine Geske Geske, a former state Supreme Court justice, introduces herself as one of the Wisconsin State Journal's new community editorial board members
Watch now: Meet Wayne Strong Strong, a former Madison police lieutenant and longtime youth football coach, introduces himself as one of the Wisconsin State Journal's new c…
Watch now: Meet Susan Schmitz Schmitz, the Downtown Madison dynamo whose great-grandfather opened a store on the Capitol Square in 1898, introduces herself as one of the Wi…
Analysis: Here's why Kyle Rittenhouse is likely to be acquitted — and why the law on self-defense must change If the jury acquits Kyle Rittenhouse, then they will be doing what the law requires them to do. That should prompt us to ask why the law dicta…
Rex Huppke: Guilty or innocent, Kyle Rittenhouse should disgust us all Nobody should want untrained teen vigilantes patrolling with illegally obtained guns
Cases highlight white privilege -- Bill Walters Like Ahmaud Arbery, I have stopped to check out home construction sites several times. Like Arbery, I have walked on a site with no construct…
Bringing a gun to a riot isn't wise -- Valerie Leffler If you go bird watching you take binoculars. If you go mushroom hunting you take a sack or two. To go deer hunting you take a gun.
Blame government for deaths, not guns -- Antony Thompson Monday's State Journal article "Verdict won't end enduring debate" was wrong to put "guns" center stage in the Kenosha riots situation that le…