Reply #21: When he was tried, he was tried "as an ADULT"

[Heddi]

My feeling is that if he was "adult" enough at 12 years old to warrant life in prison, then he should be afforded EVERY RIGHT that an "adult" in society has now that he's released. Let him buy cigarettes, buy alcohol, work more than 20 hours a week, rent cars, get lower insurance rates...whatever.

I don't understand why now, he's "just" a 17 year old. Obviously, he was tried as an adult when he was 12. Therefore, he should be just as much of an adult now that he's out and free. But of course, that won't happen because that would be fair and equatable.

I'm happy to see this young man out of jail. He should have never been sent to jail to begin with. He was rough housing---rough-housing that unfortunately cost a little girl her life, but it wasn't malicious in nature, it wasn't premedatated, and he never set out to kill her.

Glory be to all of us who were LUCKY enough to have our shenanagans as youth turn out in a non-lethal way. I can remember PLENTY of things I did as a young stupid child that feasably could have resulted in the death of another child. I remember things that my friends did that could have resulted in my death if things had gone horribly wrong. Accidents are accidents because they're not meant to happen. I feel badly for this young man, and sadly, if his life turns for the worst, people will say "SEE! We knew it would come to this! HE WAS A KILLER WHO WAS LET OUT" instead of blaming the inherent negative influence that a child as young as 12 faces being sent to prison for several years.

Sad all around for all parties involved. I hope Mr. Tate can get the issues in his life straightened out and show all of the "KILL HIM" crowds that what happened was an unfortunate accident, and not a testament of evil nature (even though by some of the responses on this thread, Mr. Tate could save 1000 children from a burning building, but that will never attone for his evil, malicious ways)