SEATTLE, WA – In response to the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse on all counts, Alliance for Gun Responsibility CEO Renée Hopkins issued the following statement:

“Today, we are thinking of the two lives lost and one person wounded because a 17-year-old had access to a semi-automatic assault weapon at a racial justice protest. We are outraged at the lack of justice brought in this case. Our hearts go out to Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber’s loved ones and to Gaige Grosskruetz. 

This decision is proof of how far we are from the beacon of justice and equality that our country claims to be. The reality is, a white gunman was free to cross state lines, get a semi-automatic assault weapon, shoot three people at a Black Lives Matter demonstration, and be portrayed as the victim. 

This case provides incontrovertible evidence of the threat posed by openly-carried firearms and the shoot-first mentality promoted by the gun lobby. The presence of a gun means any situation can turn deadly in the blink of an eye. That is why we fought to prohibit openly-carried guns at protests and the State Capitol in Washington and why we will continue working to ensure that all people can express themselves free from the threat of gun violence.”

** Correction: A previous version of this statement incorrectly stated that the shooter crossed state lines with a semiautomatic assault rifle. ** 

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