The Kyle Rittenhouse trial is dominating headlines across the country. No matter which side of the court of public opinion you fall on, this tragic incident offers a prime illustration of several key training and education tenets put forth by the U.S. Concealed Carry Association.

In this extended video produced during the second week of the ongoing Rittenhouse trial, USCCA Director of Content Kevin Michalowski and former Wisconsin state prosecutor Tom Grieve analyze the court proceedings as well as eyewitness video from the night of the shootings.

Viewer discretion is advised.

00:00 The USCCA addresses the self-defense plea in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.

00:42 Note: This video was produced during the second week of the Rittenhouse trial. Court proceedings were still in progress and no verdict had been reached at the time of recording.*

01:09 Kevin and Tom dissect network TV footage taken by eyewitnesses on the night of the shootings in August of 2020.

01:24 Throughout this video, keep an eye on how much scrutiny goes into such a high-profile self-defense case.

Base of Self-Defense Case

03:12 The base question in any deadly self-defense incident is who was attacking whom and was deadly force justified?

04:30 What are attorneys looking for when they view eyewitness videos?

05:06 Additional testimony helps provide context for grainy, obscure or incomplete video evidence.

10:14 Proper legal and firearms training and education can help you avoid placing yourself in jeopardy.

11:36 Any involvement in a violent incident is going to be closely examined by investigators and lawyers.

14:49 Most self-defense situations will not have the luxury of multiple eyewitness camera angles. They usually revolve around “he said, she said” and circumstantial evidence.

19:51 Poor tactical decisions and lack of situational awareness can result in deadly repercussions.

22:06 Kyle Rittenhouse turned himself in to Antioch, IL authorities as quickly as possible given the circumstances, but the media used the delay to paint him as a fugitive from justice.

Examining the Evidence

26:48 The evidence is irrefutable that Rittenhouse was not firing indiscriminately into the crowd despite the chaos of the scene.

27:44 The main takeaway so far is that there will be vehemently opposing positions in any trial following a violent encounter.

29:21 “I surrender” can change to “I’m going to kill you” in a fraction of a second.

29:51 Important reminder: Prosecutors, law enforcement and the media will scour your entire social media history in search of information to use against you. Think before you post because it will come back to haunt you.

33:47 Tom breaks down the inadmissible evidence and questioning by prosecutors in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial from a lawyer’s perspective.

36:25 You have — and should invoke — your right to remain silent following any self-defense incident.

38:51 Judges, juries, attorneys, witnesses and law enforcement officers are only human. They will have good days and bad days, especially under the extreme stress of a murder trial. Avoiding trouble in the first place is the best way to prevent yourself from being at the mercy of human fallibility.

39:51 This trial is an opportunity to witness the importance of training, education and situational awareness.

*November 19 Update

A jury found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts.