Trace – I agree totally, this is not about orientation. When John Wayne Gacey and Jeffrey Dahlmer were convicted, I was calling for their executions as well. Sometimes killing is justified, but that is not the same as the pre-meditated murder of innocent victims.

And yes, Lorelei, those of us that have commented would be calling for the same punishment if the murderer (and that is what this person is) had been gay. Sexuality has absolutely no bearing in this matter. This person committed pre-meditated murder. Yes, the fact that the victim was killed because he was gay makes this more heinous, but the crime is the crime. I really don’t care if he ever is released.

About the same time we started asking for leniency for murderers.

Is every one of these people incarcerated for premeditated 1st degree murder? I think not. My comments specifically addressed murderers, not the general prison population.

“Rehabilitation is not some bleeding-heart liberal hobby-horse. It is an urgent priority, unless you believe that all felons should be put to death or incarcerated permanently.”

Again, if you want to address my comments, please stick to the subject. All felons, no. Murderers of the first degree, absolutely! I also find it ironic, and hypocritical, that at first you bemoan the taxpayers expense of keeping these people in prison, then a few sentences later you backpeddle saying “And it saves the corrections system money too, if that’s what you happen to care about.”

“We feel particular sorrow and compassion for the victim because he was a child; we feel particular revulsion and hatred for the murderer for precisely the same reason.”

My comments have nothing to do with the victims age. My position would be the same if it were another Matt Shepherd, Ryan Skipper or someone in their 40′s or 80′s. Likewise, my revulsion has nothing to do with the murderers age, it is because he committed premeditated murder, not to mention the emotional and psychological scaring he left on those unfortunate enough to witness the event. These feelings may be your personal reaction to the event, but don’t presume to speak for me or anyone who agrees with me.

“Compassion and a “sense of right and wrong” are not implanted in children like a divine spark. They are acquired (though not, apparently, by those who would like to destroy McInerney’s life as surely as he destroyed Larry King’s)”

McInerney was old enough to know right from
wrong. The divine spark doesn’t automatically happen on the 18th birthday either. As far as compassion, I will save it for the victim and his family, and all the future victims yet to come. Feel sorry for the murderer if you like. I only hope you or your loved ones are never the victim of such a tragedy whereas your convictions will be put to the test.

“This is why 14-year-olds are not allowed to vote, buy alcohol, own guns, drive cars, get married, have sex, or join the armed forces.”

Yet if a girl becomes pregnant at 14, she is automatically given custody of her child and it is assumed she is responsible and mature enough to raise it. In fact, not so many generations ago it was common for teens of this age to get married and start a family. The only reason they are not held accountable these days is because we tell them and ourselves they are not accountable. If you teach someone to be irresponsible, you can’t expect them to behave otherwise and when you hold kids to the lowest threshold for civility, you have them turn out like so many these days.

“It is a bitter irony that a retributive legal system would make Brandon McInerney a book-end to Matthew Shepard.”

You have to wonder about the reasoning ability that would equate torture and sadistic murder of one with the incarceration for committing these acts for another. This is a perfect example of why the violence against us continues. Some have become so ingrained with victimhood that they feel compelled to defend the murderer and cry for mercy while a young boy lies cold in his grave.

Okay, you can put a 14-year-old child in custody for 50 years if you want. After all, there are 2 million Americans languishing in state prisons right now, receiving food and accommodation at the expense of the American taxpayers. Another one hardly makes any difference. But eventually, Brandon McInerney is going to be released. And if the prison system does not take seriously its duty to rehabilitate and reform, the 65-year-old McInerney who emerges into wider society in half a century is going to be a very, very dangerous creature indeed. Lock up your grandchildren! Rehabilitation is not some bleeding-heart liberal hobby-horse. It is an urgent priority, unless you believe that all felons should be put to death or incarcerated permanently. And it saves the corrections system money too, if that’s what you happen to care about.

I am surprised by the intensity of feeling that this particular case appears to arouse. We feel particular sorrow and compassion for the victim because he was a child; we feel particular revulsion and hatred for the murderer for precisely the same reason. As is often the case with crimes involving children, the characters assume almost metaphysical proportions: the victim is an innocent angel, so – necessarily – the perpetrator must be irredeemably evil and corrupt. It surprises me that these discourses seldom consider just how much cruelty and violence are part of any “normal” childhood; they were certainly a part of mine. Compassion and a “sense of right and wrong” are not implanted in children like a divine spark. They are acquired (though not, apparently, by those who would like to destroy McInerney’s life as surely as he destroyed Larry King’s). Not only is evil not a uniquely adult attribute, moral discernment is a uniquely adult attribute. This is why 14-year-olds are not allowed to vote, buy alcohol, own guns, drive cars, get married, have sex, or join the armed forces.

I do feel desperately sorry for McInerney, and I am especially angry that legislation I support may be used to pursue this travesty of justice. It is a bitter irony that a retributive legal system would make Brandon McInerney a book-end to Matthew Shepard.

I think the most troubling paragraph above is:
“That means that those children old enough to know that murder is wrong, may not have the physical capability to stop themselves from acting when their emotions heighten. They may rob stores to feel cool because their ability to think critically about the consequences of their actions is impaired.”

Ruby-Sachs, I worked as a Children’s Services Social Worker for many years before going into my current profession. You are being deceived if you think that children do not have the ability to control their actions. It’s very much a cognizant choice. Most know very well what the consequences are and may choose to ignore them. This is very similar to what someone that has reached the age of majority has done.

I really don’t care that this individual grow up into a responsible adult. I would prefer that not a dime is spent towards rehabilitating someone that should not see another day of freedom until he is a very old man.

Of course, I very much support that a child that commits an adult crime be tried as an adult. I hope that this individual has 51 long years (behind bars) to think of what he has done. I also believe that by punishing him to the fullest extent of the law, he will act as a deterrent.