OPINION Ion Meyn: What the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict means for carrying open firearms in Wisconsin Dec 12, 2021 Dec 12, 2021 Updated Apr 29, 2026 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Ion Meyn kAm%96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^;FCJ\7:?5D\C:EE6?9@FD6\?@E\8F:=EJ\:?\<6?@D92\D9@@E:?8D^2CE:4=60hbb6`b3_\d2ha\d`2f\h4ga\g72c42adf3`c]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmzJ=6 #:EE6?9@FD6 G6C5:4Ek^2m 92D 5625=J :>A=:42E:@?D 7@C DE2E6D DF49 2D (:D4@?D:? E92E 2==@H E96 @A6? 42CCJ:?8 @7 7:C62C>D]k^AmkAm~?6 >:89E 36 6I4FD65 7@C E9:?<:?8 E92E E96 C:89E E@ 42CCJ 2 8F? 5@6D ?@E 8:G6 D@>6@?6 >@C6 5:D4C6E:@? E@ <:== @E96CD] p7E6C 2==[ E96 $64@?5 p>6?5>6?E’D =2?8F286 @?=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E962E=2?E:4]4@>^:562D^2C49:G6^a_a_^_a^3:8\52E2\D64@?5\2>6?5>6?E^e_f`geQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm4@?76CD 2 C:89E E@ 42CCJk^2m] p 8F? 42? 62D:=J 36 =6E92=] qFE E9:D 62DJ =6E92=:EJ D9@F=5 ?6:E96C 6IA2?5 E96 8F? @H?6C’D AC:G:=686 E@ FD6 5625=J 7@C46 ?@C 5:>:?:D9 E96 D276EJ @7 @E96CD 2E E96 @E96C 6?5 @7 E96 32CC6=]k^Am People are also reading… Lake Geneva holds off vote on proposed supper club Plans presented to demolish downtown Lake Geneva building Milwaukee Brewers partner with new boutique in Lake Geneva Lake Geneva Cruise Line conducts mailboat jumper tryouts Packers offensive lineman confident heading into 3rd year with position change Man shoots deputy at Dodge County dog park, then fatally shoots himself, police say Walworth County duo delivers equipment to Ukrainian troops Robert G. Betzer Lake Geneva considers changes to city’s tourism commission How did Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby get to 10-0 already? Here's an in-depth look Garth Brooks gives Summerfest 2026 in Milwaukee a thrilling kickoff These brands pulled back on Pride. It could cost them. Here's why Lakeland Health Care Center renovations completed The paint is already peeling in Trump's renovated Washington Reflecting Pool Here's who’s running for Wisconsin governor in 2026 kAm&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ H:E9 #:EE6?9@FD6 24BF:EE2=[ E96 @A6?\42CCJ 4@>>F?:EJ ?@H 92D 2? 255:E:@?2= =:46?D6 E@ <:==]k^AmkAmp A6CD@? :D AC:G:=6865 E@ FD6 5625=J 7@C46 :7 96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@4D]=68:D]H:D4@?D:?]8@G^DE2EFE6D^DE2EFE6D^hbh^:::^cgQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC62D@?23=J 36=:6G6Dk^2m DF49 7@C46 :D ?646DD2CJ E@ AC6G6?E :>>:?6?E 562E9 @C 8C62E 3@5:=J 92C> E@ 9:>D6=7] “#62D@?23=6 36=:67” :D 2 4@>>F?:EJ DE2?52C5i (6 56E6C>:?6 9@H >F49 C6DEC2:?E :D ?646DD2CJ 367@C6 @?6 :D AC:G:=6865 E@ <:== 2?@E96C[ 2?5 :? 5@:?8 D@[ H6 A=246 2 G2=F6 @? E96 =:G6D @7 @E96CD]k^Am kAm%96 #:EE6?9@FD6 @FE4@>6 :? z6?@D92 DF886DED E92E E96 G2=F6 H6 8:G6 2 G:4E:>’D =:76 42? 56A6?5 @? H96E96C @C ?@E E96 5676?52?E H2D 2C>65]k^Am kAms676?D6 =2HJ6CD H6C6 A6C>:EE65 E@ 8:G6 D:8?:7:42?46 E@ #:EE6?9@FD6’D C:7=6 :? 2C8F:?8 E92E 5625=J 7@C46 H2D C62D@?23=6] %96J 2C8F65 E92E #:EE6?9@FD6 4@F=5 4@?D:56C E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 2?@E96C A6CD@? E2<:?8 9:D 8F? 2?5 FD:?8 :E 282:?DE 9:>] p? 6?4@F?E6C 36EH66? 2? 2C>65 A6CD@? 2?5 2? F?2C>65 A6CD@? DF556?=J 3642>6 2? 6?4@F?E6C 36EH66? EH@ 2C>65 A6CD@?D]k^Am kAmx? E96 :?4:56?E 36EH66? #:EE6?9@FD6 2?5 y@D6A9 #@D6?32F>[ E96 A=2DE:4 328 :? #@D6?32F>’D 92?5 67764E:G6=J 3642>6 2? p#\`d] &?56C E9:D G:6H @7 D6=7\5676?D6[ #:EE6?9@FD6’D 49@:46 E@ AFE 2 8F? :? 9:D 92?5 AFED 2 8F? :? @FC 92?5[ E@@]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm%9:D G:6H @7 D6=7\5676?D6 >62?D E92E 3J 42CCJ:?8 2 8F?[ #:EE6?9@FD6 H2D 2FE9@C:K65 E@ FD6 5625=J 7@C46 E92E :7 F?2C>65[ 96 H2D ?@E AC:G:=6865 E@ FD6] #:EE6?9@FD6’D FD6\@7\7@C46 6IA6CE 6IA=2:?65 E9:D EH:DE65 C62=:EJ] pD<65 :7 5625=J 7@C46 282:?DE #@D6?32F> H@F=5 36 C62D@?23=6 925 #:EE6?9@FD6 366? F?2C>65[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD2E@52J]4@>^DE@CJ^?6HD^?2E:@?^a_a`^``^``^<J=6\C:EE6?9@FD6\EC:2=\D6=7\5676?D6\42D6\4@?E:?F6D^ebgbc`d__`Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm6IA6CE @A:?65k^2m[ “}@]”k^Am State & Regional Kyle Rittenhouse verdict sends a chilling message to Wisconsin and the rest of the country Wisconsin State Journal editorial board kAm%9FD[ E96 5676?D6’D @H? 6IA6CE 4@?7:C>65 E92E :E H2D @?=J C62D@?23=6 7@C #:EE6?9@FD6 E@ <:== #@D6?32F> 3642FD6 #:EE6?9@FD6 42CC:65 2 7:C62C>] !FE 2?@E96C H2J[ E96 5676?D6 =2HJ6CD 2D<65 E96 ;FCJ E@ 2DDF>6 2? F?2C>65 A6CD@? H2D 2C>65]k^AmkAm~3G:@FD=J[ 36:?8 492D65 3J 2 A6CD@? H:6=5:?8 2 A=2DE:4 328 5@6D ?@E AC:G:=686 J@F E@ <:== E92E A6CD@?] (92E H2D ?@E @3G:@FD[ 2E =62DE F?E:= E96 #:EE6?9@FD6 24BF:EE2=[ :D E92E :7 J@F 42CCJ 2 8F?[ J@F 24EF2==J 42? <:== 2 A6CD@? CF??:?8 2E J@F H:E9 2 A=2DE:4 328] #:EE6?9@FD6 H2D 4@CC64E H96? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGl5@fD3(2+DE"Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm96 E@=5k^2m u@I }6HD 9@DE %F4<6C r2C=D@? E92E 9:D 42D6 H2D 2 H:? 7@C E96 $64@?5 p>6?5>6?E] %96 $64@?5 p>6?5>6?E ?@H 2AA2C6?E=J AC:G:=686D E96 FD6 @7 5625=J 7@C46 7@C 2? 2C>65 A6CD@? E92E 2? F?2C>65 A6CD@? 42??@E FD6 :? E96 6I24E D2>6 4:C4F>DE2?46D]k^Am kAmp 4:G:=:2? H:E9 2 8F? 42? ?@ =@?86C ECFE97F==J 4=2:> :E’D 7@C D6=7\5676?D6] &?56C E96 =2H[ 9:D 564:D:@? E@ 42CCJ 2 8F? :?4C62D6D J@FC GF=?6C23:=:EJ 2D :E C65F46D E96 G2=F6 @7 J@FC =:76] p A6CD@? H:E9 2 8F? 42? C62D@?23=J 2DDF>6 E92E 288C6DD:G6 >@G6>6?ED E@H2C5 E96> D:8?2=D J@FC :?E6?E E@ FD6 E96:C 8F? 282:?DE E96>] %96 =:<6=:9@@5 @7 G:@=6?46 :D :?4C62D65]k^AmkAmx? 2 AC@E6DE[ 4@?7C@?E2E:@?D 36EH66? F?2C>65 AC@E6DE6CD 2?5 2C>65 4:G:=:2?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6G6CJE@H?C6D62C49]@C8^C6A@CE^2C>65\2DD6>3=J\8F?D\56>@?DEC2E:@?D\2?5\A@=:E:42=\G:@=6?46\:?\2>6C:42Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2C6 4@>>@?k^2m] x7 2? F?2C>65 AC@E6DE6C 72:=D E@ DF3>:E E@ 2? 2C>65 4:G:=:2?’D @C56C E@ 92=E[ 42? 96 D9@@En xE D66>D D@]k^Am kAm(92E 492?86D E@ (:D4@?D:? =2H >:89E 96=A C6DE@C6 D2?:EJn %96 DE2E6 4@F=5 255 2 AC@G:D:@? E@ :ED D6=7\5676?D6 DE2EFE6 D@ E92E 42CCJ:?8 2 7:C62C> 4@F=5 ?@E ;FDE:7J 2 5676?52?E’D C62D@?23=6 36=:67 @7 :>>:?6?E 92C>] x? E96 4@FCEC@@>[ 2 5676?52?E 4@F=5 ?@E 2C8F6 9:D 762C @7 92C> H2D :?7@C>65 3J E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ E92E E96 G:4E:> >:89E FD6 E96 5676?52?E’D 8F? 282:?DE 9:>] %96 ;FCJ 4@F=5 4@?D:56C E96 C6=6G2?46 @7 E96 5676?52?E’D 8F? :7[ 5FC:?8 E96 6?4@F?E6C[ E96 G:4E:> 82:?65 4@?EC@= @7 E96 5676?52?E’D 7:C62C>]k^AmkAm&?56C E9:D 2AAC@249[ 2?J :?4C62D65 52?86C 42FD65 3J E96 42CCJ:?8 @7 2 8F? H@F=5 36 3@C?6 3J E96 A6CD@? H9@ 49@D6 E@ 42CCJ :E] $@ 2 ;F>AJ EC:886C 7:?86C H@F=5 ?@E 36 2H2C565 2?J DA64:2= AC:G:=686[ 2?5 E96 =:G6D @7 E9@D6 H9@ 2C6 F?2C>65 H@F=5 ?@E 36 DEC:AA65 @7 G2=F6]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^5d6be_bg\b3`a\d`__\332e\cb`h5h`_h_74Qmr6?E6C $E286 H:E9 |:=7C65 2?5 w2?5Dk^2mk^Am Perspectives: Commentary on the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse The trial and acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse ignited national conversations about race, guns, vigilantism and self-defense. Meyn is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School: meyn@wisc.edu. Locations Madison Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! 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 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… Laura Williamson: Don't like the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict? What about a Black man defending himself from a racist outside a bar? The Kyle Rittenhouse trial is a case study in why public opinion doesn’t (and shouldn’t) matter in a court of law. Everyone, white or Black, s… 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?
State & Regional Kyle Rittenhouse verdict sends a chilling message to Wisconsin and the rest of the country Wisconsin State Journal editorial board
Perspectives: Commentary on the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse The trial and acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse ignited national conversations about race, guns, vigilantism and self-defense.
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…
Laura Williamson: Don't like the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict? What about a Black man defending himself from a racist outside a bar? The Kyle Rittenhouse trial is a case study in why public opinion doesn’t (and shouldn’t) matter in a court of law. Everyone, white or Black, s…
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?