56-year-old former School Resource Officer (SRO) Scot Peterson has effectively been charged with cowardice in the face of fire by the Broward County, Florida District Attorney’s office. In February of 2018 seventeen members, comprising students and faculty, of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school were shot to death. The object of this scorn and ridicule is Officer Scot Peterson who reportedly stood outside for 45 minutes while students ran, screamed and hid in terror from the gunman. Peterson, according to a conservative political blog, is known as the “Coward of Broward.” At the time of the shooting Florida Governor, now Senator, Rick Scott said,“Had this individual done his job, lives would have been saved. Actions (or inaction) have consequences.”
Using the logic of people like Scott and ‘The View’ Host Meghan McCain, who unequivocally say Peterson deserves every day of his potential 96-year sentence; what happens to the teachers they want to arm who do not spring into action? Education Secretary Betsy DeVos ensuing the lead of President Trump wants to arm teachers. Florida is part of this initiative, following the lead of states like Arizona and Utah that already allow kindly old Mr. Algebra to come to school packing.
I am no fan of a man who would shield himself and violate the oath he took to ‘protect’ and serve, especially when it comes to helpless kids. My point is where does the prosecution of cowardice start and stop. Under the proposal introduced by Secretary Devos, 132 hours of training would be required for teachers to discharge a weapon on school grounds. Peterson, who has 30 years of experience and has received commendations in the past for his decisions, exercised questionable judgment in this case. Considering that, what chance does a teacher, with not nearly his years of law enforcement experience, have in a crisis? Will Senator Scott or Ms. McCain call for 96 years for a geometry teacher who cowers under his or her desk in the face of 30 rounds from an AR-15 in less than 15 seconds?
We all like to think we would grab our weapon in a crisis and stand tall like John Wick and take out the bad guys, but for most of us, it is not true. Every decent man or woman has the instinct to protect the vulnerable, but none of us know who will fight and who will take flight. In retrospect, Scot Peterson made mistakes that led to fatal consequences. I admit my initial reaction when I heard the news reports of Peterson’s inaction was to throw my hands up and scream with exasperation at the TV, “you coward!” Since that time, and my personal mourning of the lives lost, I have had time to reflect. Adults have done little, including myself, to make enough noise to overwhelm the gunfire that is killing our kids.
I had a conversation with a dear friend last night, talking about how we took to the streets, relentlessly, in the 70s to protest war and racism. I was 17 years old the day Richard Nixon threw his hands in the air forming the peace sign, boarded a helicopter and got the hell out of our political lives forever. I remember the students who died at Kent State, I remember the Poor People’s Campaign bogged down in the mud and in the shadow of the Washington Monument. Change is hard, uncomfortable and sometimes deadly. The students of Marjory Stoneman High took to the streets of Washington, DC without fear. Let us not allow Scot Peterson to bear the brunt of cowardice alone—while others offer thoughts and prayers.
Vote in 2020 for Change.