The ruling by the Supreme Court regarding the death penalty for the mentally ill as well as those under the age of 18 should apply when trying and sentencing children as adults. The brain development of a child is so different from an adults, they don't act like an adult, nor do they think like an adult. A child under the age of 18 does not have the rights of an adult such as buying cigarettes, buying alcohol, voting, and needing permission to go on field trips, or leave school premises, and receive medical treatment. So, I ask how can we possibly punish a first-offending child as an adult? Thomas White's story is truly a tragedy. I don't know the family personally nor do I know anything about the case other than what I have read. My request is that all of us look at this boy for what he is which is a 13 year old boy crying help for help. From what I read, apparently he was having difficulty with his schooling and on top of that he was being bullied. If anyone has been bullied and picked on then you know what it feels like. It is enough to drive children to suicide and it has. All you have to do is go to the www.bullypolice.org and read the tragic stories of parents who have lost their children as a result of very cruel bullying. Every school in the United States should have zero-tolerance for bullying rules and appropriate punishment for those who commit acts of bullying. Why didn't Thomas report the bullying? No doubt it would have gotten worse, and he was afraid of the bullies. Maybe there was no emphasis in the school that bullying would not be tolerated. Not everyone reacts the same. People can carry the scars of bullying throughout their life. I think we as adults will recognize that, so we really need to look at it from a child's perspective. What would the reaction had been if Thomas had killed himself? No doubt, they would have found this to be a tragedy and maybe some would have asked what they could have done to have prevented this. Why aren't we asking that now? I am not saying he shouldn't be punished, but I sincerely don't believe he should be tried and sentenced as an adult to a long prison term in an adult prison. This will serve no purpose at all other than permit the bullying to continue, no doubt he will be sexually and physically abused, and will be provided no rehabilitation or education. Go listen to If I Get Out Alive, narrated by Diane Keaton, http://lcmedia.com/getout.htm I urge the prosecutor and judge to provide mental health treatment, rehabilitation and education to this child within a juvenile system, not adult prison. Give him a chance let him to go Boys and Girls Town of Missouri. Isn't there some responsibility regarding the gun being so readily accessible? Parents have been warned over and over again about keeping the guns unloaded, and locked up where they aren't readily accessible to their children. I know this is a long letter, but a young life is at stake and I hope that help is given, not adult prison.

I don't understand why a state known for having the best juvenile system in the country is trying a 13-year old boy as an adult? This is a child with learning disabilites that was bullied in school, who feared his father due to bad grades, a father that is a convicted felon that had an arsenal of weapons in his home. And the reason for trying him as an adult, as per the judge, is because an employee of the state,a juvenile officer,recommended it?! Girls and Boystown is ready and willing to take Thomas to steer him in the right direction, to give him a future, and, most importantly, to help him; shouldn't that always be the goal when it comes to children? Seems to me this is the old "make an example out of him routine." Adult prison is not a deterent; if it were, we wouldn't have more prisons and more prisoners then any other country in the world. A state known for having the best juvenile system in the country should have only one goal: what is best for its children. Send Thomas's case back to juvenile where it belongs and better yet let him go to Girls and Boystown where he belongs.

Child justice advocates around the world campaign to help get laws changed governing "children". This child did "not" get to where he is today, ALL BY HIMSELF. Children are products of their enviornment. The focus must be of counseling, rehabilitive efforts, to help him become a "productive member of society". This subject is never mentioned in all the news articles. It constantly focuses on "punishment ONLY". The emotional status of this child never comes into focus, is it not obvious this child needs help?? Has America become so cold, so harsh, so NON flexible, so unforgiving, as NOT to investigate the current laws governing children? The treatment of this child is in "direct" violation of the constitutional amendment rights as to "cruel and inhumane". Children deserve a "chance", which is never offered. This case belongs in juvenile court, for the child he IS. Officials seems to have a "blind eye", as to what they are doing to this child, which is state sanctioned child abuse!! Administrator kidsincourt.net whoopassforjustice.org

If a parent were to keep their 13 year old child in solitary confinement for any length or time or deny him school, the parent would be subject to child abuse charges. Why does the State of Missouri sanction this form of child abuse?

Why is this 13 year old CHILD being certified as an adult? A 13 year old can't be an adult. It is absurd to think that a 7th grade child can think or reason as an adult; that is why our society doesn't allow young teens to drive, vote, drink, marry, sign a contract, go into the military, live alone, quit school, buy cigarettes, or even stay out past 10 pm in most towns. How is a "juvie" officer qualified to determine whether this child is an adult? I'm wondering if this child is being made an example of and if he is, what for? Studies have shown that prison for juveniles is not a deterrent, in fact just the opposite. Children who go to prison re-offend sooner, more often and more serious crimes than children who are tried in juvenile court. They are 5 times more likely to be beaten and abused in prison, and twice as likely to commit suicide. Thomas White should be given treatment and rehabilitation and the school administrators should be held accountable for any bullying that occured that contributed to this incident. Studies show that 75% of school shooters have been bullied. It may be a career advancing move for this prosecutor to go for the harshest punishment of this child, but it will be of no benefit to society, the people he has been elected to protect. A child who can become a productive member of society through caring and treatment should be the goal, not prison.

I am very concerned about the Thomas White case. Here is a little 14-year old kid who is sitting in solitary confinement at the Adult County Jail because he made the mistake of bringing a gun to school and firing a shot into the ceiling. He killed no one. He should not be certified as an adult for this offense because he is just a kid. He is a scared, bullied little kid. I know when I was 14, I was no more capable of making adult decisions than to fly to the moon. How will Thomas be able to make adult decisions? Missouri is supposed to be the flagship in Juvenile Justice. Why isn't the law demanding that Thomas White be protected under Juvenile laws? Is there an underlying reason why he is not? Is the D.A.'s office trying to make an example of Thomas White? It is proven that citizens are not safer if young teen-age kids are held in adult prisons. Thomas needs care. He needs to be given the opportunity to reclaim his life. I am tired of my tax dollars going to house prisoners. Thomas needs to grow up and become a productive member of society. Citizens of Missouri need to stand up to make sure this is the course he will be put on.