Video Highlights
- Former Broward County deputy and school resource officer Scott Peterson was found not guilty on multiple counts of child neglect.
- The case stems from the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida where Peterson remained outside the building while students were being killed.
- The defense argued that Peterson did not fit the definition of caregiver under Florida law and therefore had no legal duty to act.
- Florida law defines child neglect as a caregiver's failure to provide necessary care and supervision for a child's physical and mental health.
- The definition of caregiver includes a school resource officer responsible for a child's welfare, but Peterson did not fall into the other categories.
- Ultimately, the jury may have believed that the law did not apply to Peterson's actions.
- While being a coward may not be a crime, the failure to act by Peterson had devastating consequences.
Video Summary
Yesterday, former Broward County deputy and school resource officer Scott Peterson was found not guilty on multiple counts of child neglect. The case stems from the tragic shooting that occurred in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where Peterson remained outside the building while students were being killed.
During the trial, Peterson claimed that he could not determine from which building the gunshots were coming from, and other deputies testified that they also had difficulty distinguishing the source of the gunshots. However, it was revealed that Peterson did not enter the building until law enforcement had been on the scene for 40 minutes.
The question arises: should being a coward be a crime? While there may not be a specific law criminalizing cowardice, the failure to act by Peterson had devastating consequences. The defense argued that Peterson did not fit the definition of caregiver under Florida law, and therefore had no legal duty to act. The jury may have believed that the law did not apply to Peterson's actions.
According to Florida law, child neglect is defined as a caregiver's failure or omission to provide a child with necessary care, supervision, and services for their physical and mental health. This includes providing food, clothing, shelter, medicine, and medical services that a prudent person would consider essential for the child's well-being. It also includes a caregiver's failure to protect a child from abuse, neglect, or exploitation by another person.
The definition of caregiver under Florida law includes a school resource officer responsible for a child's welfare. However, Peterson did not fall into the other categories of caregiver, such as parent, legal custodian, or permanent guardian. While our gut instinct may tell us that a school resource officer is responsible for every child's welfare, Florida law treats them differently from other law enforcement officers.
Ultimately, the jury's reasoning for finding Peterson not guilty on all counts is unknown. It is possible that they believed the law did not apply to his actions as a school resource officer. However, it is important to remember that regardless of the verdict, the tragic events of that day cannot be undone. Peterson's failure to act had devastating consequences, resulting in the loss of many lives.
In the United States, even in the year 2023, being a coward is not a crime. However, it is important for all lawful and responsible gun owners to know the laws in every situation and how they apply to them. Understanding the law is crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of ourselves and others. If you have any questions about gun laws or your Second Amendment rights, feel free to contact Washington Gun Law for assistance.
