Comments on: The Scapegoating of Brandon McInerney

By: gabie

gabie — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 02:59:18 +0000

I do not care what his age is!
He should have the same restrictions and punishment as any adult should.
Its disgusting how someone kills a kid because he/she is gay.

By: Steve T

Steve T — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:44:23 +0000

Scapegoat??? Please! Your “article” makes it sound like the police are trying to make a murderer a scapegoat (dumb ass term) for actually committing the CRIME he is accused of? Do you understand the term ‘Scapegoat’? Obviously NOT! I don’t care if this McInerney ‘person’ was 14 when he committed this premeditated murder!!! He should be, by all means be tried in court as an adult murderer and he should rest his dumb ass in prison not just for 20 or 30 years, but for the rest of his pathetic life!!

To all of you whining, bleeding hearts that say he should just get counseling I say, get some education!! He needs to be put in a hole and forgotten!! He did it to his “classmate”, he knew what he was doing and he needs to suffer the consequences!

By: DomanikS

DomanikS — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:02:28 +0000

Has this case gone to trial yet? I’m extremely disturbed that the first I heard of this was while researching details surrounding the Matthew Shepherd case, which also was given very little air time in Australia.

Ignorance is a form of intolerance, love is never wrong.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:32:00 +0000

jbishop,

You are misinformed. Lawrence followed the dress code for boys. He accessorized with a few articles of women’s clothing, but not regularly. He was not wearing any gender-nonconforming accessories when he was shot twice in the head.

By: Politicalguineapig

Politicalguineapig — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:36:46 +0000

I’m puzzled, why does everyone think murder is the ultimate crime? It’s not. Secondly, what if the kid got released at 25 BUT he had to pay reparations for Larry? It wouldn’t bring him back, but it would bring home the seriousness of the crime.

By: Jason D

Jason D — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:35:38 +0000

“If Brandon would have hit Larry a good non fatal lick up beside the head with a club this case would have immeasurable educational value. It would serve exemplary to gay males the seriousness of approaching potential lovers.”

This would only be fair and realistic if the same rules applied in all situations. If you’re not attracted to whoever approaches you, then you have every right to slug them (nonfatally, of course). I can’t wait to see Ladies Night at a straight bar after this rule gets put into place. Fellas, bring your money, your best clothes, and a helmet!

Or we could just teach boys the same lesson we teach girls — If someone is interested in you and you’re not interested in them “SAY NO”. If they persist, leave, if they touch you, then you have the right to defend yourself.

Quite frankly Denise, straight men who are secure in their masculinity are not threatened by flirting by gay men: they’re flattered and have no problem saying “thanks, but no thanks”.

Gay men, like any other person, should not have to live in fear of flirting with the wrong person. Doesn’t matter if it’s fatal or not. Flirting is not assault or a threatening gesture. “A nonfatal lick upside the head” is a grossly disproportionate response. It’s symptomatic of major issues on Brandon’s part, which are not the fault or responsibility of Larry. The rules are not different for gay people, nor is there any reason they should be. If straight men cannot control their aggressive natures, then they shouldn’t be loose in society.

By: jbishop

jbishop — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:33:38 +0000

Comment in violation of Comments Policy: Reposting of entire posts or articles by another author is strictly forbidden.

By: jbishop

jbishop — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:48:19 +0000

Yes, I am aware of the laws in California for dress code in regard to trans gender issues and you are correct that they were following it. In my opinion it is an interpretation of constitutional law which more appropriately should appy to adults but has been interpreted here to apply to minors. Just an opinion. Who decides what rules and rights apply to adults and which ones to minors? When is a child an adult? Be that as it may I suspect that most of the inflammatory issues that exacerbated the situation here could have been avoided if standard policies in regard to sexual harassment as they apply to adults in the workplace applied and were enforced in public schools. Additionally, I advocate stricter CAP laws as they pertain to gun control and children.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:10:29 +0000

jbishop,

The school had a standard dress code. Lawrence King was in compliance with it.

By: jbishop

jbishop — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:09:19 +0000

I also wonder if adults who allow minors access to handguns were properly charged in such situations whether access to deadly weapons by minors would see a significant decline.