Chris Kyle's killer set to go on trial

[Gamma Male]

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/american-sniper-chris-kyles-alleged-killer-set-go-trial-n299766

Jury selection will get underway Thursday in the trial of the man accused of gunning down Chris Kyle at a Texas shooting range.

Attorneys for alleged killer Eddie Ray Routh tried unsuccessfully to delay and move the trial. They said Kyle is just too popular in Erath County, population just under 38,000.

"American Sniper" has grossed nearly $250 million and has been nominated for six Oscars, including best picture and best actor for star Bradley Cooper. Kyle's autobiography of the same name has sold millions of copies. Texas Governor Greg Abbott also proclaimed February 2 "Chris Kyle Day."

The trial will be held in Stephenville, Texas, where the local courthouse typically sends out 175 jury duty notices before a criminal trial. This time, they delivered 800 notices.

Among the questions Judge Jason Cashon will ask potential jurors on Thursday and Friday: "Did you see the movie 'American Sniper'?" An affirmative answer alone will not disqualify potential jurors.

Attorneys will narrow the pool down to 12 jurors and two alternates on Monday and Tuesday. Opening statements are due to be given next Wednesday. The trial is expected to last at least two weeks.

Kyle become American's deadliest sniper during four tours of duty in Iraq. Insurgents put a bounty on his head, nicknaming him the "Devil of Ramadi."

However, Kyle struggled to adapt to civilian life but found strength in sharing his skills and serving other veterans.

Kyle started his own company, Craft International, which provided tactical training to law enforcement and military personnel. He also helped found FITCO Cares, a non-profit group that helped veterans stay in shape.

He was fatally shot at Rough Creek Lodge, a shooting range 90 miles southwest of Dallas, on Feb. 2, 2013. Fellow Iraq veteran Chad Littlefield was also killed.

Routh's attorneys said their client will plead not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutors said they will ask for life without parole, instead of the death penalty.




Release him and give him a medal for performing a public service.

[SethfromMI]

are you serious? you want to release him and give him a medal for murdering one of our veterans? please, tell me you are joking. please

[Karkat]

That's entirely subjective. You could say the same about murdering the president, or murdering anyone really- one type of killing is somewhat regulated and legal, the other was most likely vigilante justice.

I don't agree with war at all, but this guy seemed like he at least had his heart in the right place, helping vets and all, whereas I'm provided no motives for the other party and must assume that it was a random act of violent crime.

Besides, Americans are generally brainwashed into thinking war is ok- there's really no excuse for the other guy. Seriously. Give me one justifiable reason why what he did was ok that ISN'T completely ironic.

[Gamma Male]

are you serious? you want to release him and give him a medal for murdering one of our veterans? please, tell me you are joking. please

Well, I'm only half serious. Sorta joking. Sorta not joking. I don't think he should be punished too harshly. Maybe 5 years or so. Chris Kyle was a genocidal sociopath afterall.

[SethfromMI]

That's entirely subjective. You could say the same about murdering the president, or murdering anyone really- one type of killing is somewhat regulated and legal, the other was most likely vigilante justice.

I don't agree with war at all, but this guy seemed like he at least had his heart in the right place, helping vets and all, whereas I'm provided no motives for the other party and must assume that it was a random act of violent crime.

Besides, Americans are generally brainwashed into thinking war is ok- there's really no excuse for the other guy. Seriously. Give me one justifiable reason why what he did was ok that ISN'T completely ironic.


Well, I'm only half serious. Sorta joking. Sorta not joking. I don't think he should be punished too harshly. Maybe 5 years or so. Chris Kyle was a genocidal sociopath afterall.

dude, war does some crazy things to a person. I know I have lost complete respect for the both of you. how dare either of you justify the fact he was murdered. even if you do not agree with war. lost total respect for both of you

[Karkat]

dude, war does some crazy things to a person. I know I have lost complete respect for the both of you. how dare either of you justify the fact he was murdered. even if you do not agree with war. lost total respect for both of you

Way to fucking jump to conclusions, I wasn't justifying his murder. I don't justify the murder of anyone unless it's maaaaaybe a dangerous serial killer. And that's a big if.

Maybe I can't respect someone who reads into what he wants to see, and doesn't treat a person's opinion fairly before making judgements.

Just because I don't agree with war, it doesn't mean that I justify the death of a veteran- I respect veterans, because they usually believe what they were doing was right. This country brainwashes its citizens into believing that the death of another is a reasonable price for some petty dispute between men with small penises and too much power. It's the fault of the government, not the soldier. I personally have friends in military service. I would never change how I feel about them just because they're misguided.

Frankly, I'm pretty offended that you made such a snap judgement on my character. If you want to know, maybe I've lost respect for you as well.

[Gamma Male]

dude, war does some crazy things to a person. I know I have lost complete respect for the both of you. how dare either of you justify the fact he was murdered. even if you do not agree with war. lost total respect for both of you

I just fail to see any difference between Chris Kyle and the people Chris Kyle killed.

And I'm pretty sure Karkat was on your side.

[Karkat]

I just fail to see any difference between Chris Kyle and the people Chris Kyle killed.

And I'm pretty sure Karkat was on your side.

There isn't. The difference is the context, honestly.

Doesn't make the fact that he's killed right, but war has a different cultural significance than outright murder- one is treated as respectable and is preached to YOUNG KIDS as being something they should give their lives for. Murder is taught to young kids as something that sends you to hell.

Once again. Government. Fuck the government.

And if you really have to know, from the looks of it, I'm on no one's side.

[Gamma Male]

There isn't. The difference is the context, honestly.

Doesn't make the fact that he's killed right, but war has a different cultural significance than outright murder- one is treated as respectable and is preached to YOUNG KIDS as being something they should give their lives for. Murder is taught to young kids as something that sends you to hell.

Once again. Government. Fuck the government.

And if you really have to know, from the looks of it, I'm on no one's side.

I see where you're coming from. We can't really hold the soldiers accountable because they've been brainwashed and think they're doing good etc and I kinda understand.

But, assuming this was a vigilante killing against what Ed saw as an agent of the MIC and American Imperialism, I'm also really sympathetic to his side too.

That's why I said maybe just give him 5 years.

[thatcountrykid]

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/american-sniper-chris-kyles-alleged-killer-set-go-trial-n299766






Release him and give him a medal for performing a public service.

Get the hell out of here. You don't know shit about what soldiers do. It changes people. I Know about soldiers who cry and call themselves murderers and they hate themselves for it. Do you know what this soldier did? He was a doctor who was called a hero all over San diego.

Chris Kyle has done more for others than anyone of us every will. Did you know he has kids gamma? Huh?

Read his book. Then tell me what you think.

[Karkat]

I see where you're coming from. We can't really hold the soldiers accountable because they've been brainwashed and think they're doing good etc and I kinda understand.

But, assuming this was a vigilante killing against what Ed saw as an agent of the MIC and American Imperialism, I'm also really sympathetic to his side too.

That's why I said maybe just give him 5 years.

I'm all for rehabilitation if that's what you're talking about, but I believe there should be some sort of penalty- I mean that's the point of laws existing (says the rebel who consistently breaks laws)

But yeah, rehabilitation would be a better option than flat out jail forever...For just about anyone.

Get the hell out of here. You don't know shit about what soldiers do. It changes people. I Know about soldiers who cry and call themselves murderers and they hate themselves for it. Do you know what this soldier did? He was a doctor who was called a hero all over San diego.

Chris Kyle has done more for others than anyone of us every will. Did you know he has kids gamma? Huh?

Read his book. Then tell me what you think.

Fairly ironic considering what war does to civilians- you know war kills innocent people, right? Or are you just as naive as the rest of this country?

[Gamma Male]

Get the hell out of here. You don't know shit about what soldiers do. It changes people. I Know about soldiers who cry and call themselves murderers and they hate themselves for it. Do you know what this soldier did? He was a doctor who was called a hero all over San diego.

Chris Kyle has done more for others than anyone of us every will. Did you know he has kids gamma? Huh?

Read his book. Then tell me what you think.

If you look at it objectively, everything you're saying could also be applied to the terrorists in ISIS.

[phuckphace]

I'm actually inclined to (somewhat) agree with OP's sentiments, albeit with less sympathy for the goon who committed the murder. Chris Kyle was portrayed, as they always are, as a True American Family Man/Cowboy who used his skills at sniping to defend our freedums. in reality, just a glorified private mercenary in the business of clearing a bloody path through the desert straight to the oil wells. he'd just as soon gun down you, me and our families too if his superiors told him we were threatening those freedums.

Chris Kyle has done more for Israel than anyone of us ever will.

:lol3: fixed. I pay Federal taxes, does that count? I think by now I've paid in at least enough to buy them a missile (or maybe just the nose cone)

[Horatio Nelson]

I would just like to point out, this isn't ROTW. Please refrain from debating in this thread. If you feel so inclined, please go ahead and make a thread in ROTW. I would hate to see this thread locked.

[thatcountrykid]

I'm all for rehabilitation if that's what you're talking about, but I believe there should be some sort of penalty- I mean that's the point of laws existing (says the rebel who consistently breaks laws)

But yeah, rehabilitation would be a better option than flat out jail forever...For just about anyone.



Fairly ironic considering what war does to civilians- you know war kills innocent people, right? Or are you just as naive as the rest of this country?

Yes of course I know civilians die in war. War is terrible but the soldiers can't be blamed unless they knowingly killed civilians.

If you look at it objectively, everything you're saying could also be applied to the terrorists in ISIS.

Actually you can't. There's a difference between combat with an armed enemy and slaughter a few thousand un armed women and children in one day n

I'm actually inclined to (somewhat) agree with OP's sentiments, albeit with less sympathy for the goon who committed the murder. Chris Kyle was portrayed, as they always are, as a True American Family Man/Cowboy who used his skills at sniping to defend our freedums. in reality, just a glorified private mercenary in the business of clearing a bloody path through the desert straight to the oil wells. he'd just as soon gun down you, me and our families too if his superiors told him we were threatening those freedums.



:lol3: fixed. I pay Federal taxes, does that count? I think by now I've paid in at least enough to buy them a missile (or maybe just the nose cone)

You guys really don't understand anything about war except what you've read in the books or seen on news or been taught by your parents.

Rules of war and political agenda goes out the window when you're in combat and being shot at. Politicians have their goals for economy. Soldiers have the goal to live and save each other.

[Vlerchan]

Routh 2016?

[Thunderstorm]

I understand war can do some serious damage to a person's mental health, but you have to look at both perspectives. This guy is a veteran and yes, he helped others, and yes, American Sniper is a heartwarming movie (from what I've heard) but if you think about it, the whole thing is ironic. America's most lethal sniper was killed by gunfire.

Regardless of whether it was terrorists or not, Chris Kyle killed people. He killed other humans, living creatures. Some of them were women and children. It makes me sad that we praise him while another culture wants him dead. In 2009 he was honorably discharged from the military, and I say thank god for that or even more people would have died.

Millions of people get PTSD and not just from gruesome experiences. I work at a summer camp and I had a 7 year old who developed PTSD as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Is that any less important than a Vet's PTSD? No.

[Karkat]

Yes of course I know civilians die in war. War is terrible but the soldiers can't be blamed unless they knowingly killed civilians.



Actually you can't. There's a difference between combat with an armed enemy and slaughter a few thousand un armed women and children in one day n



You guys really don't understand anything about war except what you've read in the books or seen on news or been taught by your parents.

Rules of war and political agenda goes out the window when you're in combat and being shot at. Politicians have their goals for economy. Soldiers have the goal to live and save each other.

Because war is only right when it's in the name of America! :rolleyes:

Jingoism at its finest.

[thatcountrykid]

Because war is only right when it's in the name of America! :rolleyes:

Jingoism at its finest.

You guys act like I think war is fun.

[Katie96xox]

Release him and give him a medal for performing a public service?

No words can describe the utter disgust I feel at your remarks. Kyle risked his life countless times to fight for your freedom and you rejoice in his death? Pure evil and pure scum. Absolutely pathetic. If you don't want the freedom and liberty that Kyle and the rest of the military fights for then I'm sure you will be happily accepted into a country like Syria or North Korea. You are sickening.

[Vlerchan]

I personally find the remarks emanating from Katie's side of the spectrum a lot more repulsive than I find the condonation of murder.

I decided I'm not even going to mock her conflating imperialism with freedom. It mocks itself.

[Gamma Male]

Release him and give him a medal for performing a public service?

No words can describe the utter disgust I feel at your remarks. Kyle risked his life countless times to fight for your freedom and you rejoice in his death? Pure evil and pure scum. Absolutely pathetic. If you don't want the freedom and liberty that Kyle and the rest of the military fights for then I'm sure you will be happily accepted into a country like Syria or North Korea. You are sickening.

Please explain how the invasion of Iraq has furthered or in any way protected my safety and or rights.

The way I see it, Chris Kyle actually fought against "muh rights" by participating in an invasion that contributed to increased geopolitical instability in the middle east and the creation of ISIS, making it more likely that I'll be targeted by a terrorist group.

The only government workers I can think of that actually protect my rights are firefighters, paramedics, and Edward Snowden. ;)

[Sugaree]

Well, I'm only half serious. Sorta joking. Sorta not joking. I don't think he should be punished too harshly. Maybe 5 years or so. Chris Kyle was a genocidal sociopath afterall.

Only a liberal would think that someone doing one of the most emotionally challenging jobs in the world, coming back with mental scars, and then overcoming those trials and seeking to help others coming back with the same scars would think Chris Kyle is a genocidal sociopath.

Was what he did right? In a way, yes. When you're in a combat zone, you can't trust anybody who isn't wearing your colors. Was it justified? At the time, it was believed to be justifiable. But all we know about Kyle is hearsay, and unless you knew the man, talked to him about his experiences and trials, and got a better understanding of him, all we will ever have is the hearsay evidence.

Regardless of whether it was terrorists or not, Chris Kyle killed people. He killed other humans, living creatures. Some of them were women and children. It makes me sad that we praise him while another culture wants him dead. In 2009 he was honorably discharged from the military, and I say thank god for that or even more people would have died @Thunderstorm (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/member.php?u=55802)
BREAKING NEWS: People die during infantry combat, more at 11

There's something called collateral damage; unfortunately, when you're dealing with enemy combatants, they will use innocent civilians as shields for protection. Armed forces do their best to reduce the risk and possibility of collateral damage, because civilians are not the target. However, despite our best efforts, it continues to happen. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time happens to everyone; sometimes it becomes very deadly. It shouldn't happen, but war is war, and nothing changes that.

So, by that little bit of wisdom you shared, are you saying that it's better not to kill terrorists because they are living creatures? As far as I'm concerned, when you support terrorists or claim to be a terrorist, you have no right to live. It can be any kind of terrorism, not just Islamic. Terrorism, at its core, is designed as a way to show no respect or value for life. Please, tell me again, is it better to let scumbags who don't value the lives of others live or to wipe them from the face of the planet? I vote for the latter.
@Gamma Male (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/member.php?u=100322)
The only government workers I can think of that actually protect my rights are firefighters, paramedics, and Edward Snowden.>firefighters and paramedics
>protecting your Constitutional rights

Please tell me you're joking. Firefighters and paramedics are social services instilled through government action. They don't protect the rights you have from the Constitution because the Constitution does that on its own by existing. Snowden is a completely different topic, as he advocates for constitutional rights and freedom, not protect them.

[Vlerchan]

Only a liberal would think that someone doing one of the most emotionally challenging jobs in the world, coming back with mental scars, and then overcoming those trials and seeking to help others coming back with the same scars would think Chris Kyle is a genocidal sociopath.

In his memoir, Kyle reportedly described killing as “fun”, something he “loved”; he was unwavering in his belief that everyone he shot was a “bad guy”. “I hate the damn savages,” he wrote. “I couldn’t give a flying fuck about the Iraqis.” He bragged about murdering looters during Hurricane Katrina, though that was never substantiated.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/06/real-american-sniper-hate-filled-killer-why-patriots-calling-hero-chris-kyle

I don't believe for a second the man was all there.

But all we know about Kyle is hearsay, and unless you knew the man, talked to him about his experiences and trials, and got a better understanding of him, all we will ever have is the hearsay evidence.
Except, y'know, he wrote some pretty bestselling memoirs.

From what I've read of them - 'of' because I didn't read the actual memoirs - it seems to me like Kyle was a good soldier but a bad person.

---

So, by that little bit of wisdom you shared, are you saying that it's better not to kill terrorists because they are living creatures?
I think he's just opposed to the glorification of killing.

As far as I'm concerned, when you support terrorists or claim to be a terrorist, you have no right to live. It can be any kind of terrorism, not just Islamic. Terrorism, at its core, is designed as a way to show no respect or value for life.
Terrorists are just combatants you hold an ideological disagreement with so brand with this term and all the emotions-inducing connotations it holds.

So this is meaningless.

Please, tell me again, is it better to let scumbags who don't value the lives of others live or to wipe them from the face of the planet?
I think if you want a sensible answer to this from anyone you are going to need to frame it in some sort of context.

---

Its notable though that Kyle spent a lot of him time killing soldiers - not terrorists - as serving under the sovereign state of Iraq.

[phuckphace]

I didn't realize he spent some time doing mercenary work stateside.

though some would disagree, I think that's the most useful thing Kyle did. all these soldiers that we're sending overseas to fight the Caliphate ought to be on the streets of Detroit and LA enforcing curfews and clearing out gang activity. 10,000 troops and a few weeks time would reverse decades of incompetent policy that lead to our cities becoming violent shitholes.