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Fact Check: Did Kyle Rittenhouse Prosecutor Point Gun at Jury, Telling Them to Convict?
Newsweak ^ | Nov 17, 2021 | Yevgeny Kuklychev

Posted on 11/17/2021 6:47:13 AM PST by where's_the_Outrage?

The Claim

While making his closing statement, Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger produced the weapon that Rittenhouse used during the shooting incident on August 25, 2020.

Binger then raised and pointed the weapon in the courtroom. The moment was captured by the court's cameras and multiple photographers in the room.

The video and images of the episode have since been widely shared online, accompanied by questions around Binger's handling of the firearm—including his appearing to put his finger on the trigger—and claims that he aimed the rifle at the jury.....

While it is accurate to say that the prosecutor raises the weapon and points it in a certain direction, the line of sight appears to go diagonally across the room, rather than toward the jury, which is seated behind and to the left of the spot where he stands.....

Finally, there is no basis to the claims that the weapon was loaded or unsafe. Both Binger and—later—defense attorney Mark Richards stated that it was first checked by a weapons safety professional.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: gunsafety; juryintimidation; rittenhouse; straightpropaganda; unloadedgun; yevgenykuklychev
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Comment #21 Removed by Moderator

To: Lazamataz

Yeah. Who are you going to believe? Them or your own lying eyes?


22 posted on 11/17/2021 7:12:52 AM PST by Noumenon (Black flag American. KTF)
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To: Bruce Campbells Chin
”…perfectly safe.”

Perhaps courtrooms deserve to practice the “Hollywood exception” to the safety rules. You can’t, however, suggest that exercising the “Hollywood exception” is “perfectly safe”. Alec Baldwin proved that it isn’t perfectly safe.

23 posted on 11/17/2021 7:16:54 AM PST by William Tell
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
Finally, there is no basis to the claims that the weapon was loaded or unsafe. Both Binger and—later—defense attorney Mark Richards stated that it was first checked by a weapons safety professional.

That doesn't matter! When you pick up a gun ... IT IS LOADED. PERIOD. Until you determine otherwise.

24 posted on 11/17/2021 7:17:13 AM PST by al_c (Democrats: Party over Common Sense)
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To: ealgeone

Over 60 yrs ago, after I picked myself off the ground I learned fast not to even accidentally point a weapon at someone.


25 posted on 11/17/2021 7:18:31 AM PST by oldasrocks
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Has anyone noticed that the article was published by NEWSWEAK and not NEWSWEEK?


26 posted on 11/17/2021 7:18:38 AM PST by certrtwngnut (4- Do something,,,,even if it's wrong.)
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To: Bruce Campbells Chin

Ummmmm....No.

Why would anyone need to “look down the barrel from the muzzle? And why should the muzzle be pointed at anyone while cleaning?

I’ve handled thousands of firearms. And never once been tempted to look down the muzzle. But to each his own I guess.


27 posted on 11/17/2021 7:19:56 AM PST by saleman
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Yes, it was a direct threat.


28 posted on 11/17/2021 7:25:59 AM PST by SaxxonWoods (“There are no rules here – we're trying to accomplish something.” -Thomas A. Edison )
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
These antics and stupid stuff at the trial pointed out a few facts: Kyle Rittenhouse knew more about Wisconsin gun laws and overall gun safety than DA Thomas "Bozo" Binger.

Loaded, not loaded, checked by others or not, this was a clown-move to intimidate the jury - period. The DA needs to attend an NRA gun safety class at the barest of minimum, and needs a refresher in self-defense, Wisconsin gun laws, the 5th Amendment, and "law". He skipped the class about law in law school.

He needs to be under the scrutiny of the Wisconsin Bar Association based on his prosecutorial misadventures.

29 posted on 11/17/2021 7:26:30 AM PST by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all.......)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
What's the difference? I'll wait....


30 posted on 11/17/2021 7:31:16 AM PST by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all.......)
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To: oldasrocks

LOL! That’s experience!


31 posted on 11/17/2021 7:38:33 AM PST by ealgeone
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To: Bruce Campbells Chin

” If the chamber was checked “

I didn’t see him check it an his finger is on the trigger.


32 posted on 11/17/2021 7:39:55 AM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: asinclair
I think many people who are dissing the ADA for pointing the gun at people, finger on the trigger, fail to consider that there are rules about firearms in court rooms. One of them is that the firearm be safed BEFORE it's brought into Court.

Doesn't matter. A live round could easily be snuck into the courtroom, metal detectors nonwithstanding.

The handling of the firearm SHOULD and MUST be an assault and/or menacing charge.

33 posted on 11/17/2021 7:44:23 AM PST by Lazamataz (I feel like it is 1937 Germany, and my last name is Feinberg.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
The purpose of the 'gun stunt' was to frighten the jury.

Useful tactic just in case the jury forgot burnings, lootings and violence would start that night... with matches, walking around money, masks, tents, homemade 'looking' signs, pallets of weapons, and hordes of help getting them bailed out of jail... would be ready and willing to keep the horror going.

It might be considered 'jury intimidation'...

34 posted on 11/17/2021 7:48:59 AM PST by GOPJ (One man lying to himself is pathetic - but a culture lying to itself seeds it's own destruction.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

Are you gonna believe Brandon Media newspuppet Yevgeny, or your own lying eyes?


35 posted on 11/17/2021 7:53:11 AM PST by kiryandil (China Joe and Paycheck Hunter - the Chink in America's defenses)
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To: ealgeone

Only an idiot would pose like that in a courtroom and think he’s doing something to impress a jury. I hope that photo, at least, is used in every firearm safety training course from now, on, right along with the cop shooting himself in the foot in front of a classroom full of kids.


36 posted on 11/17/2021 7:53:59 AM PST by telescope115 (Proud member of the ANTIFAuci movement. )
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To: Bruce Campbells Chin

Do you think the prosecutor did any of those things?


37 posted on 11/17/2021 7:55:31 AM PST by telescope115 (Proud member of the ANTIFAuci movement. )
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To: where's_the_Outrage?

The photos of Kyle & the gun he DID use are available all over the place.

The DA did NOT use the same gun.

The gun the DA used does NOT look the same, especially where a person used their LEFT hand.

TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

Another case of the DA mis-representing evidence, IMO.

I hope the judge caught this.


38 posted on 11/17/2021 7:56:06 AM PST by ridesthemiles ( )
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To: William Tell
Okay...how to you ever clean a weapon or check the barrel if you assume it is always loaded?

The problem with that movie was that their weapon/ammunition inventory control was inherently dangerous. And of course, Baldwin should have checked the weapon himself. And if he did, there wouldn't have been an accident.

In this case, as much as I hate the prosecutor, it seems like we're trying to make a lot out of a little. We can see there is no magazine. None of us know -- because we weren't there -- if that chamber was checked and shown to be empty in full view of the lawyers, jurors, and bailiff. If it was...then pointing it in a direction away from the jurors as a demonstration is completely safe.

We have so many perfectly valid criticisms of this prosecutor that it weakens those criticisms to add one that may not be valid at all.

39 posted on 11/17/2021 7:56:46 AM PST by Bruce Campbells Chin
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To: lgjhn23

IT WAS NOT THE GUN KYLE USED....

Look hard at photo of Kyle & where the left hand holds the weapon.

DA gun was different.


40 posted on 11/17/2021 7:58:03 AM PST by ridesthemiles ( )
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