Drawing the charge of intentional homicide, Rittenhouse has, in essence, sacrificed his own life — and will no doubt become a martyr of his cause. The hard right is now arguing he fired in self-defense, asking how to contribute to his legal funds and calling him a “hero.” It’s notable, although not surprising, that they do not deny or attempt to disprove that he killed people, and instead praise him for the killing. That is how they prime the next vigilante, the next mass murderer, to go after the groups they despise with a vainglorious fantasy of righteous civil war.