Well-known Colorado gun rights activist Dudley Brown is backing the 17-year-old who is facing murder charges for shooting two men and wounding a third during a night of civil unrest in Kenosha, Wis.

Brown, the former executive director and current president of the influential Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, hopes to raise $100,000 through a group called the National Foundation for Gun Rights. He founded the organization in 2000 as a potential rival to the National Rifle Association. The Denver Post was first to report on the fundraising for Kyle Rittenhouse on Friday.

Videos from Tuesday night show Rittenhouse carrying an AR-15-style rifle to guard a car dealership from rioters, whom he scuffled with, then opened fire, according to the criminal complaint against him.

“Our country is extremely scared right now and people do not think police will be able to respond or help them, especially in big cities but even in moderate-sized cities,” Brown told Colorado Politics on Saturday. “Everyone knows this mob is angry. Most of it’s not logical. The way they treat people is not logical.”

He conceded that the facts didn’t support a stand-your-ground defense. Rittenhouse, who lives in Antioch, Ill., faces five felony charges, as well as misdemeanor count of possession of a dangerous weapon under the age of 18. 

Brown conceded the facts of the case present problems in exonerating Rittenhouse.

“Yeah, of course, we’d love a precedent-setting case where Antifa went to attack a female Hispanic lady in a wheelchair, but it doesn’t always happen that way,” he said. “That’s not what we’re doing here. We’re not trying to set a precedent.

“We’re looking at an angry mob who is threatening anyone who doesn’t agree with them, and guess what, you don’t get to do that in America.”

He expanded on Sunday, saying he didn’t think the case was legally problematic, “The kid was attacked. I don’t think he needed to consult a book on statutes when Antifa thugs were threatening his life.”

There have been no reports that any of the victims were affiliated with anti-fascism protesters known informally as Antifa.

Brown said if Rittenhouse’s legal representation is provided pro bono, the money he raises would go to the Rittenhouse family.

He said all of the money would be accounted for.