Following reports that the armed deputy on duty during the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last week did “nothing” as the gunman opened fire on students and teachers, police are reportedly guarding the deputy’s home at his family’s request.
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said Thursday he was “devastated” after seeing video footage showing the deputy, Scot Peterson, standing outside the building but never entering during the shooting that killed 17 people.
“Sick to my stomach,” Israel said. “He never went in.”
According to BuzzFeed News, Peterson was placed on unpaid leave and then filed for retirement following revelations from the surveillance footage.
Local news affiliates WPTV and WSVN reported that Peterson’s Boynton Beach, Florida, home is now guarded by six deputies after his family asked for protection.
People on Twitter saw the reports of the Peterson’s non-action during the shooting as evidence that placing more armed guards or giving guns to teachers—both ideas proposed by President Donald Trump in the past few days—will not solve the country’s school shooting problem.
I guess a “good guy with a gun” isn’t the strategy after all. https://t.co/3rgPBc0CAv
— Andy Slavitt 🇮🇱 🇺🇦 (@ASlavitt) February 22, 2018
Even a sheriff's deputy, presumably with significant training, couldn't react properly in a crisis situation.
— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) February 22, 2018
But 10th grade history teacher Mr. Smith, whose tactical experience amounts to watching "Band of Brothers", much less held a gun, will save the kids if he's armed?
Broward County Sheriff last night: Gun control is the answer! I know how to keep people safe.
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) February 22, 2018
Sheriff today: My deputy didn't go inside the school during the shooting.
But yeah, let's trust *only* the govt to keep us safe.
An armed sheriff’s deputy won’t do it, but a kindergarten teacher who is already underpaid should be expected to be weapons experts, and be stocking an A-15 in their classrooms to help NRA client gun sales. What could go wrong. https://t.co/VjKMjXpeUt
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) February 22, 2018
The armed, "trained" deputy failed to engage the shooter but teachers are supposed to be able to? pic.twitter.com/8pa7hp3XUf
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 22, 2018
H/T Business Insider