This story is going to be a hot topic for debate, especially when it comes to your core beliefs of parenting. A lot of parents do believe in spanking, whooping, and corporal punishment to redirect children and correct inappropriate behavior. I know people of all races and backgrounds that got “beat” as I like to call it. The belt knows no difference in color, sex, or religion, it does not discriminate.
The question is going to be did Adrian Peterson commit a criminal act? The state of Texas will have to prove it.
Corporal Punishment: 1: punishment applied to the body of an offender including the death penalty, whipping, and imprisonment
2: punishment administered by an adult (as a parent or a teacher) to the body of a child ranging in severity from a slap to a spanking
Is there a statute of limitations when it comes to corporal punishment?
I know a lot of you would like to press charges against your parents, if you could. If there is no limitations statute in Ohio, I would like to press charges against my parents because I was whopped. I got whopped with a belt by my mother and my father. I was never whooped with a switch, extension cord, or whatever was handy, unlike some of my counterparts. I was whopped for what I deemed to be stupid stuff. Not doing chores, allowing my little sister to go outside, and bad grades. There was no corporal punishment allowed in my school district. Of course, I don’t believe I ever deserved to be whooped. I am sure my parents would say that all of my whooping's were justified.
One of my last official whooping’s was because I was being an entrepreneur. I was selling Blue Raspberry Blow-Pops in middle school. When they first came out they were all the rage, you had a blue tongue! I bought the suckers (Ohio dialect) at the corner store for 10 cents, (using my lunch money) I would then sell them at school for 25 cents. I had a 15 cent markup, transactions were quick and easy. Quarters were my currency of choice, and there was no turf wars between rival candy dealers. I made a tidy little profit, until I got busted two days later. I was in the principal’s office, someone straight NARKED on me. I still don't know who did it to this day. What a hater, I was getting mine, whats wrong with that? Candy makes everyone happy. Suburban snitches are the worst.
Well, I got whooped the next morning before school, because my mother told my father that I was in the principal’s office for have a candy enterprise at school. Man, it was hard to sit down all day. What’s wrong with believing in free enterprise and capitalism? Did I deserve to be whooped? Heck’s no, I was a businesswomen!! It’s about supply and demand, and I had that connect and that product that kids were going crazy for. Geez, I sound like one of those drug dealers wearing a mask with a disguised voice on “Drug’s Inc.” on NatGeo. Let me stop acting like I was the middle school version of Wood Harris in “Paid in Full.”
OK, moving on…back to my original story. See, sorry I got sidetracked by the past, my whooping's took an emotional toll on me!
I had an opportunity to be a Social Worker after I graduated from college, first let me tell you it is a thankless job. Second, it’s not for me, I discovered that very quickly. In Ohio, corporal punishment is allowed but you cannot leave “marks.” There is also sexual abuse, neglect, and educational neglect. Emotional abuse does not exist, at least in Ohio, and it did not exist during my time as a social worker. Of course, things are always subject to change.
Adrian Peterson turned himself into authorities around 1am Saturday morning and was released about a half hour later. He has been deactivated by Minnesota for the week 2 matchup against New England. Peterson’s attorney is saying that he had engaged only in “stern parenting.” Peterson told the police that he would give “whoopings” to his four year old son for misbehavior. Peterson denied that he had ever used extension cords. “Oh, no, I’d never hit my child with an extension cord. I remember how it feels to get whooped with an extension cord. I’d never do that.”
The Vikings have issued a statement saying that they were “in the process of gathering information regarding the legal situation involving Adrian Peterson.” The NFL will have opportunity to punish him under the new domestic violence policy, a six game suspension could be looming. This suspension could devastate the Minnesota Vikings, AP is one of the top running backs in the league.
The NFL is currently dealing with the fallout from of the Ray Rice situation. The league is being knocked for allowing San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald, who was arrested in late August after an altercation with his pregnant fiancée, and Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, who is appealing his July conviction on two domestic violence charges, to remain on the field. How can that be, why is only Ray Rice being punished. Roger…I am still waiting for an answer…
Based on the picture below do the injuries sustained constitute child abuse? Does the picture indicate the appearance of substantial harm?
It appears that the prosecutor of Montgomery County Texas, thinks that this is abuse. The charges against Peterson, came after police investigated claims that he had abused his son while disciplining him with a switch, or a tree branch.
Below is an excerpt of Texas Law:
FAMILY CODE TITLE 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP
SUBTITLE E. PROTECTION OF THE CHILD
CHAPTER 261. INVESTIGATION OF REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 261.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
1) "Abuse" includes the following acts or omissions by a person:
(C) physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child, or the genuine threat of substantial harm from physical injury to the child, including an injury that is at variance with the history or explanation given and excluding an accident or reasonable discipline by a parent, guardian, or managing or possessory conservator that does not expose the child to a substantial risk of harm.
I think Montgomery County has a uphill battle, if it even gets to the point that they will try the case. If they have one juror that believes in corporal punishment, he will get off.
The state of Texas still allows corporal punishment in schools. These Are The 19 States That Still Let Public Schools Hit Kids Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/19-states-still-allow-corporal-punishment-2014-3#ixzz3DAGtzXXH
The question will be raised of how can a school officiant strike a child but a parent cannot? Make sure you read the part in the article about the state of Texas. Very interesting, I wonder if that law will magically disappear.
In the court of public opinion, do you think AP is guilty of child abuse or a criminal act?
Were you whooped, do you consider it child abuse?
Do you believe in "spare the rod, spoil the child?"
I know you did not ask but personally I do not believe in corporal punishment. I do not have children, but when do I plan on redirecting them in other ways other than physical discipline. I do think the injuries in the pictures are a little excessive. We are not dealing with an average human. AP is a physical specimen, he is 6’1, 217lbs and possesses superior strength. He is a Running Back in the NFL and he relies on that strength, agility, and athleticism to punish NFL defenses every Sunday. When he uses a switch on a 4 year old it’s going to produce more force and cause injury than say if I was swinging it. IJS
Baller Alert will keep you updated as new information develops.