I'm so disappointed in this decision. He may have killed someone, but he's still a kid.

Trying him as an adult is the right decision. His penalty should be life without indeterminate sentencing, the possibility of parole or the death sentence. Too many of these murderers get off with light sentences from bigoted judges.

Several GLBT groups took the position that Brandon McInerney shouldn’t be tried as an adult. I lived in LA for a long time and every week young African Americans, Indians and Latinos were sentenced as adults without a peep of protest. Is this case, where a Euroamerican thug murdered a GLBT person of color, any different from the others?

The increase of hate murders is escalating at a frightening pace because Obama and McCain won’t stop telling bigots that we’re second class citizens who don’t deserve the elementary right to be married. And, to be fair, much of the blame lies with Congressional Democrats and Republicans who decided that our rights and lives were expendable. ENDA and the hate crimes bill were ditched and DOMA and DADT kept on the books. The Democrats have controlled Congress for two years so most of the blame is theirs. The Republicans were delighted to go along for the ride but they weren’t driving the bus that ran over us.

Many people oppose the death penalty and so do I because of the ‘justice’ system. The courts, police and politicians who exercise oversight are mired in class based and racist prejudices. It’s set up to punish working class and non Europeans, whose percentage in the US prison population of over two million is vastly dispropotionate to their census percentage.

However I make an exception in the case of two crimes – genocide and hate murder. They are the same crime except in scale. Hate murders often escalate into genocide, as in Bosnia-Herzegovina, NAZI Germany and the history of US treatment of Native Americans and African Americans.

I usually take the position of "fry 'em!" with murderers like Brandon McIneney. Yet, in this case, I don't support trying him as an adult, and definitely don't support capital punishment for McInerney. I believe that trying him as an adult greatly increases the chances that McInerney's counsel will invoke a gay/trans panic defense, and if he is acquitted of the charges based on that defense, we have a terrible legal precedent set that would cause hate murderers to get off scot-free for their crimes, nationally. It would become open season. If tried as a juvenile, the case publicity gets ratcheted down (aren't juvenile cases tried behind closed doors in California?), a plea-bargain will probably be struck quietly, and no panic defense invoked - so no legal precedent.

Of course, the liberal doo-gooder in me thinks that, if tried as a juvenile, McInerney might actually get psychiatric help, get over his hatred of GLBT people, and possibly end up a useful contributing member of society. But that sounds like an awfully flighty liberal thing to say. Frogs might learn to fly, birds might learn to swim, and James Dobson might actually grow a brain, too.

Sorry, but it was doubly sad day when the California Courts System allowed this child to be tried as an adult. As has been pointed out already the coverage will now run to "why" Brian McInerny did this. All too often the answer is going to be "he was driven to it and I'd have done it as well."

I think in their deepest hearts most people cannot get behind the lifetime incarceration of a child. Him sitting in Folsom or somewhere of the sort wasting away his life will be totally difficult to justify I will imagine.

Much better to have done something to reduce the hatred and rancor and tried him as a juvenile. That he committed murder I think is doubtless; that the State should do so as well is plenty doubtful.

If it was an accidental shooting, fine.

This was premeditated. He found the (Daddy's?) gun, brought it to school WITH THE INTENT to shoot King. He aimed for the face. King died.

Not only do I feel McInerney deserves to be tried as an adult, I feel the owner of the gun should have the same charges brought against them.

Hell people--it's not like they don't sell small handgun safes *to prevent kids from getting ahold of the handgun*. If you're going to own a gun? You should learn how to store it properly with a kid in the house.

And this is coming from a kid who grew up in a Vietnam vet's house--with guns all over. Who was picked on and punched and tripped and otherwise had my life made miserable by my so-called classmates for being smart and fat. And, at NO point did I *ever* say "Gee, maybe I'll grab Dad's Browning pistol and shoot someone!"

Yet, McInerney *did*.

And today, King's family and friends have to deal with McInerney's decision. And that's why he *should* be tried as an adult. He stole a life. Friends and family of King will never be able to hug him again. King will never grow up, get a job, have a boyfriend, go to a gay bar, buy his first house, his first new car, or any other things that any other classmate of King's will still be able to do in the future.

As with anything, this is my opinion.

This is just plain frustrating. As horrible as his crime was, McInerney is still a 14 year old. I don't know about anyone else, but most of the 14 year olds I know are still basically acting on what they've been taught by others rather than what they've learned through their own experience. While I don't consider him blameless in the least- generally, it doesn't take most people very long to figure out that shooting other people is wrong- at this point, he was more than likely acting on whatever queerphobic crap he's been fed throughout his life.

Yes, I understand the desire to make an example of the kid, but is that really what justice is all about?

Somewhere at the junction of hormones, pop star sexuality, fear, ignorance, access to a weapon, immature judgment, uncaring or unavailable parents, peculiar school attitudes came this tragedy.

Just at an age where kids pull away from their parents and try to become "individuals" is exactly when they need to be held closest. Lawrence King's flame burned brightly and perhaps it hurt his killer's eyes, but that is no excuse for what he did.

Unfortunately, due to his age, he will likely receive no punishment for this other than massive legal bills and an interruption in his life that will be impossible to overcome. It would be surprising if he can ever have a normal productive life and every failure he has after this he can chart to this one stupid act of a confused feverish brain. There are just no winners in this and no happy endings in sight. No vengeance, just grief will cover this waste.

As horrible as his crime was, McInerney is still a 14 year old.

A 14 year old who murdered someone.

Yes, I understand the desire to make an example of the kid, but is that really what justice is all about?

Turn the situation around. What kind of example does it set if he gets tried as a juvenile? It basically sends a message to any other young haters out there that they can get away with killing, provided they do it while they're young enough.

McInerney allegedly pulled the trigger that ended a life, but there were others who had some effect on what happened. The father certainly appears to be an irresponsible gun owner. He should face consequences. Where was security at the school? Shouldn't someone there face consequences also? If the deed can be shared among several individuals, then I would agree with trying him as a juvenile. But if he will be the only one charged, then he should, if found guilty, spend the rest of his life behind bars to bring to an end an open season on LGBT youth. This isn't about revenge; it's about deterrence. If someone knows they could spend the rest of their life behind bars, maybe they will think twice before murdering someone in cold blood. Despite having a diminished capacity, a 14 year old should understand the implications of his act. Kids don't kill kids in a civilized society, and the penalty must be more than a slap on the wrist. Otherwise, respect for the law is further eroded.