Sixteen Year Old Murderers Aren't Adults

In the state of Missouri, it is understood by most that one is considered an adult at the age of eighteen. When referring to “adult” we will mean mature and of legal age. Therefore, a sixteen year old male who shot and killed one man and seriously injured the victim’s fiancé in a carjacking would be tried as a juvenile, right? He’s only sixteen, which makes him a minor. One might think that should be the case, but why, then, are the courts debating to try him as an adult?
I find it funny how the rules always seem to bend in favor of the state government. Adults are supposed to be mature, meaning that they are grown-up, experienced, and or responsible. Consider this with the sixteen year old male. He’s obviously not what we would define as mature. More importantly, he isn’t of legal age which makes me ask why you can try him as an adult. Yes, he committed murder, and yes I agree that he should have to pay serious consequences. What I don’t agree with is how you don’t consider, for instance, a responsible sixteen year old supporting themselves and being an abiding citizen of the state of Missouri as an adult. Yet, when a sixteen year old kills someone, and proves that they are not mature or responsible, you deem them to be an adult? I’m not necessarily saying that the benefit of being regarded as an adult is unfair, because I wouldn’t consider it a privilege if I were the sixteen year old boy. However, as the responsible, independent, sixteen year old, I would want to be recognized as an adult because it would benefit me. Of course, this is not the case. It seems that the system is always working in your favor to hold back the ones who deserve the title, and lock away those who don’t.
As crime continues to grow and more and more minors begin to get involved, I believe that who you consider to be an “adult” needs to be justified. I agree that breaking the law has consequences, but your law indicates that one must be eighteen to be an adult. Therefore, it either needs to be followed or changed so that the rules apply to all and don’t have to be altered to fit your needs.