Kyle Rittenhouse Rifle to be Destroyed; Dominick Black Rifle Returned

 The legal disposition of the rifle used by Kyle Rittenhouse in self defense, during the riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, has been settled.

Kevin Matheson,of Kenosha County Eye was in court when Judge Schroeder validated the agreement, by all parties, the rifle Kyle Rittenhouse fired on August 25, 2020, would be destroyed by the Wisconsin Crime Lab. From wisconsincourts.gov:

Minutes: Case livestreamed. Clerk/T. Lema. ADA Thomas Binger appeared for the State. Atty Mark Richards appeared on behalf of deft. Atty Xavier Solis appeared on behalf of The Fightback Foundation. Atty Francine Felske appeared on behalf of Carriage Capital. ADA Binger reports the State has returned the the deft's articles previously w/held to the deft except the firearm. Parties have reached a stipulation as to the firearm; firearm will be destroyed.

Rittenhouse is reported as saying all his property from that day would be thrown away, as the shootings should not be celebrated.

Kevin Matheson, from the Kenosha County Eye, communicated to this reporter:  Dominick Black's rifle was said to have been returned to him. 

Here are links to two different videos of what was going on in the courtroom when Judge Bruce Schroeder validated the arrangment.

Link to youtube video on stipulation to destroy rifle

Link to youtube.com:

On the video of Rekieta Law, at about  1:24:00, the panel of lawyers discuss the disposition of the rifle Kyle used. 

The rifle may not have been the focus of the lawyers attention. Instead, it appears most of the negotiation was centered on how to divvy up the two million in bond money to be returned.  From the kenoshacountyeye.co:

According to court records obtained today by the Kenosha County Eye, the $2,000,000 will be split three ways:

$150,000 Ricky Schroeder (Conservative Activist & Actor)

$925,000 Fight Back Foundation (Founded by Lyn Wood)

$925,000 Richards & Dimmer, S.C., IN TRUST (Rittenhouse’s Attorney’s trust account)

It is unsure how much of the almost $1M will be paid to Kyle’s defense team, and how much will go to 19-year old Rittenhouse, if any for personal use.

It appears Kyle is sincere in not wanting any of his possessions to be used to "celebrate" his use of the rifle in self defense. Kyle has always been clear he used the rifle in self defense. From an interview:

 "The jury reached the correct verdict. Self defense is not illegal."

To most gun owners, this appears to be bizzarre. If you do not want the rifle, why not sell it to someone who does? Why not allow the rifle to be a symbol of American exceptionalism? Why not allow it to be used to rally those who value freedom over oppression? 

It is clear those close to Kyle, his lawyers Richardson and Chirafisi, are not gun enthusiasts or particularly interested in guns. His friend, Dominick Black, seems to have been interested in selling the rifle or rifles; but Black agreed to the disposition of the Rifle Kyle used. It may be Black was convinced this reduced his federal legal liability. 

If Black had considered contesting the issue, he had no support to do so. He was not represented by consel, as far as this reporter can tell; once the dismissal of his charges were completed. 

Opinion: 

DA Binger is able to claim a prize of a sort: he can claim he had a hand in ensuring the destruction of the hated rifle. 

The Left can claim a moral victory: If only the rifle had never existed, none of the bad things would have happened, they will say. See, even Rittenhouse knows in his heart such rifles are inherently evil. That is why he had it destroyed. 

The left is not going to treat Kyle Rittenhouse any different because he had the rifle destroyed.

If Americans do not celebrate self defense, they give up the moral high ground. If self defense is something to be ashamed of, why would anyone have the courage to defend themselves? 

Celebration of the ability to do hard but necessary things used to be an important part of the American character.  

To many people in America, the "wise" thing to do is to "let someone else do it."