Vikings RB Adrian Peterson indicted for child abuse; deactivated for Pats game at Minnesota

Nunchucks · Sep 16, 2014

Haley said:
My point is, regardless of what sentence he receives, it will be based upon more information than my message-board-posting opinion. They have books upon books of similar cases and the judge will weigh out his case against those.

Right, people do not go to jail as first time offenders for this kind of thing.

Ring 6 · Sep 16, 2014

Nunchucks said:
Um, being part of dog fighting is one thing....torturing dogs, slamming them on the ground to kill them....hooking a car battery up to them and shocking them.....that is a little bit more, don't you think?

He switched his kid. He definitely took corporal punishment to an unacceptable level, but I it isn't like he is drunk slapping his kids around for making noise or crying too much or knocking over a drink. It was not done in anger ( I do not think from what I have heard). It was done to impart a lesson.

Sometimes people just need to be told a better way and they improve.

Do not get me wrong, switching a 4 year old child is ridiculous. I have young children and would never dream of such punishment, but I know better.

I do not think putting him in jail helps the kids at all. Jail is not a solution, it should be reserved for people who have proven that they cannot adhere to the rules of society or have committed egregious acts that must be atoned for......Peterson most likely will receive counseling and could go on to be a great dad.....Though, I am a little skeptical of that since he has a number of children by different women.

He BEAT his child. There is a huge difference between a spank to send a message (which is stupid in and of itself) and opening wounds.
This is very similar to what you detail about Vick, it was taking a position of authority and abusing it. He did it because he can.
Please don't give me comments about his motivation. Why would you even try to say whether it was done in anger?
Your best comment is that you would never do it. That is because you are not capable of INJURING your child rather than having the patience to use a less harmful means to get their attention.
Make no mistake, Adrian Peterson certainly understands there are more ways to correct a childs behavior than inflicting pain. The problem is until someone else came along and said hurting a child is wrong, it simply didn't bother him. That is character not education.

Fixit · Sep 16, 2014

Nunchucks said:
Right, people do not go to jail as first time offenders for this kind of thing.

Unless they can establish a pattern of abuse, which is looking more and more likely.

Ring 6 · Sep 16, 2014

Nunchucks said:
That was just an example.

I don't think he taught any lesson to the 4 year old, I think he just switched him, which is a fairly common practice in some segments of our society.

He wanted to teach the kid not to act out....maybe he did, most likely he didn't. Either way, he needlessly hurt a helpless 4 year old and that is an awful thing to do.

Fairly common does not make it right. It is fairly common in some segments of our society to sell drugs to kids and execute anyone who infringes on your turf. You can't dismiss wrong with someone else does it.

Your last sentence is right on the money, especially using the work NEEDLESSLY. He knew better.

shmessy · Sep 16, 2014

Nunchucks said:
He wanted to teach the kid not to act out....

......by acting out!

Great example by Mr. Absentee Dad!

'Hey kid, you don't hit people to make a point!!! Now to make my point, I'm going to hit you".

Ring 6 · Sep 16, 2014

Nunchucks said:
What he did was wrong, But, he seems to have acted out of ignorance rather than malicious intent. You can fix ignorance. I would send him to counseling not jail. Some people just need to get some in these things.

You do not strike a 4 year old hard enough to break the skin without intending malice.

Ring 6 · Sep 16, 2014

People need to realize this isn't just a matter of using physical discipline, its a matter of EXCESSIVE use to point of abuse.
Before I had children I decided that any from of spanking was unacceptable because I believed that all I was teaching was if you don't like what happens and you are bigger, just hit the other guy. I don't abjectly dismiss the intelligence or morality of someone who has a different view toward corporal punishment, but I do find someone who would take to that level of harm, abuse and infliction of pain of a 4 year to be both lacking in intelligence and morality.
Spank the kid to 'teach a lesson' and I disagree but respect your right to parent as you wish. BEAT the kid, and you lose that respect, and should lose the privilege of parenting that child.

Fixit · Sep 16, 2014

AndyJohnson said:
People need to realize this isn't just a matter of using physical discipline, its a matter of EXCESSIVE use to point of abuse.
Before I had children I decided that any from of spanking was unacceptable because I believed that all I was teaching was if you don't like what happens and you are bigger, just hit the other guy. I don't abjectly dismiss the intelligence or morality of someone who has a different view toward corporal punishment, but I do find someone who would take to that level of harm, abuse and infliction of pain of a 4 year to be both lacking in intelligence and morality.
Spank the kid to 'teach a lesson' and I disagree but respect your right to parent as you wish. BEAT the kid, and you lose that respect, and should lose the privilege of parenting that child.

Well, that last part won't hurt him. He doesn't really parent his kids in the first place.

I think we may be expecting a little too much from a guy who, when he found out that a biological son of his was beaten to death, was all like, "Bummer. Okay, I'm going back to practice!"

Nunchucks · Sep 16, 2014

AndyJohnson said:
People need to realize this isn't just a matter of using physical discipline, its a matter of EXCESSIVE use to point of abuse.
Before I had children I decided that any from of spanking was unacceptable because I believed that all I was teaching was if you don't like what happens and you are bigger, just hit the other guy. I don't abjectly dismiss the intelligence or morality of someone who has a different view toward corporal punishment, but I do find someone who would take to that level of harm, abuse and infliction of pain of a 4 year to be both lacking in intelligence and morality.
Spank the kid to 'teach a lesson' and I disagree but respect your right to parent as you wish. BEAT the kid, and you lose that respect, and should lose the privilege of parenting that child.

I actually believe spanking is abuse....I think it is wrong and I judge people who spank as a method of punishment...so, there ya go.

I am against hitting kids in all circumstances....I just think that Peterson should be given a chance to correct his behavior.

Fixit · Sep 16, 2014

Nunchucks said:
I actually believe spanking is abuse....I think it is wrong and I judge people who spank as a method of punishment...so, there ya go.

Nunchucks said:
I actually believe spanking is abuse....I think it is wrong and I judge people who spank as a method of punishment...so, there ya go.

I am against hitting kids in all circumstances....I just think that Peterson should be given a chance to correct his behavior.

Your last sentence made me take back my Agree.

Ring 6 · Sep 16, 2014

Nunchucks said:
I actually believe spanking is abuse....I think it is wrong and I judge people who spank as a method of punishment...so, there ya go.

I am against hitting kids in all circumstances....I just think that Peterson should be given a chance to correct his behavior.

I agree with you on spanking, but I see the right of a parent to use it if that is their belief up to the point of hurting the child.

I hope Peterson does stop, but this is about his attitude toward children and responsibility, not education.

mgteich · Sep 16, 2014

AndyJohnson said:
Perhaps suspending the accused WITH pay until resolved in court is the best route.

Making legal (and moral) sense is generally not allowed in this type of discussion.

mgteich · Sep 16, 2014

PATS16N0 said:
This is where mandatory sentences seem like bureaucratic rubbish. They're lazy.

If Adrian Peterson went overboard with his `switch` this one time, resulting in those welts all across his sons thigh, I'd probably give him three months in jail, being the first offense. He would be able to return for the 2015 season, mom could give the "things will be different speech", Adrian can learn a lesson, and the family is potentially salvaged, with the possibility of returning to the league meaning he can continue to provide an upper-class life and future full of opportunities for his children.

If it happens again, serious problem, serious jail time.

I don't know. Is that fair or overly lenient?

The key to your analysis is "serious JAIL time". That is, the courts (and society) decides what is acceptable and what the punishment should be. And yes, I agree that serious jail time should be a consideration if the facts are as they seem.

mgteich · Sep 16, 2014

I suspect that much of the angst that we feel is that many court jurisdictions disagree with our values with regard to using a switch on a child. Laws are local. What Peterson did is illegal everywhere, but not viewed in the same way in much of the South as northerners view this issue.

Make now mistake, I agree that Peterson should go to jail for a long time. HOWEVER, I also believe that this is a matter for the courts and NOT a matter for the NFL.

If the NFL needs to add punishment to those convicted of crimes, so be it. The rules must then be clear. Also, it must be clear as to which crimes the rules apply.

Haley · Sep 16, 2014

With respect to this discussion of separate laws governing different areas of the country, let's take a moment to review the law in the State of Texas with respect to child abuse. This is the exact law under which AP was indicted.

According to Chapter 261 of the Family Code (recodified in 1995), child abuse is an act or omission that endangers or impairs a child’s physical, mental or emotional health and development. Child abuse may take the form of physical or emotional injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, physical neglect, medical neglect, or inadequate supervision.

The law specifically excludes “reasonable” discipline by the child’s parent, guardian, or conservator; corporal punishment is not in itself abusive under the law. An act or omission is abusive only if “observable and material impairment” occurs as a result, or if it causes “substantial harm,” or exposes the child to risk of substantial harm.

source: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/ag_publications/txts/childabuse1.shtml

In other words, he was not indicted under a law that would consider him guilty for just any amount of corporal punishment. "Reasonable" discipline was considered and ruled out by the prosecutor.

DefenseRules · Sep 16, 2014

"Minn. Gov Mark Dayton says he Adrian Peterson deserves due process, but should be suspended until accusations are resolved by the courts."
http://bleacherreport.com/minnesota-vikings

The Minnesota Governor speaks his piece.

patchick · Sep 16, 2014

mgteich said:
Make now mistake, I agree that Peterson should go to jail for a long time. HOWEVER, I also believe that this is a matter for the courts and NOT a matter for the NFL.

If the NFL needs to add punishment to those convicted of crimes, so be it. The rules must then be clear. Also, it must be clear as to which crimes the rules apply.

As we've seen in the Hernandez case, waiting for the outcome of legal proceedings can take years. And unlike Hernandez, who admitted nothing, Peterson has admitted to doing exactly what he was accused of: whipping a young child repeatedly with a tree branch. His employer has the right to find that behavior unacceptable from one of the public faces of their organization, regardless of whether a Texas jury ultimately finds it criminal.

Tunescribe · Sep 16, 2014

DefenseRules said:
"Minn. Gov Mark Dayton says he Adrian Peterson deserves due process, but should be suspended until accusations are resolved by the courts."
http://bleacherreport.com/minnesota-vikings

The Minnesota Governor speaks his piece.

That's what I said several posts ago. Suspend him with pay.

rochrist · Sep 16, 2014

Somewhat tangentially, the NFL, in the never-ending quest to always find the stupidest possible path, have permanently removed Rhianna (survivor of domestic abuse) from the Thursday Night Football intro.

Ring 6 · Sep 16, 2014

patchick said:
As we've seen in the Hernandez case, waiting for the outcome of legal proceedings can take years. And unlike Hernandez, who admitted nothing, Peterson has admitted to doing exactly what he was accused of: whipping a young child repeatedly with a tree branch. His employer has the right to find that behavior unacceptable from one of the public faces of their organization, regardless of whether a Texas jury ultimately finds it criminal.

You have to take into account he is a public figure, and that more than just his own reputation is at stake in the public.
If this was a TV newsman, or a politician, or even the announcer doing the game Peterson is playing in, they would be suspended until it was resolved in the legal system. If it was your mailman, or the guy at Jiffy Lube he would probably keep working until he either went to jail or didn't.
Due process is for your rights in a criminal proceeding. Your employer, or someone who hires you on an at will basis, can absolutely sanction or fire you for being accused, particularly when you are a highly public figure in the process of besmirching their reputation.

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