Is this a case of mind your own business, or is it now your business when a man hits a toddler in the face at a grocery store?

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 00:45:17 -0400

After watching the video, is it a case of you minding your business or is it now your business to protect the child?

http://news.yahoo.com/video/bakersfield-police-arrested-man-hitting-125817769.html

Bakersfield Police have arrested a man for hitting a toddler in the face

Watch the video Bakersfield Police have arrested a man for hitting a toddler in the face on Yahoo News . Police in Bakersfield arrested a man who they say hit a toddler in the face. And the whole incident was caught on surveillance video.

Response by TSgt David Holman made Apr 11 at 2015 1:00 AM

TSgt David Holman — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 01:00:21 -0400

I have seen people "pop" their children in public (something like a very light spanking), but never to the point that it knocks the child down. This boy (sorry, can't call him a man) hit this poor child with a running start, and then lifted the child up from the ground by his arm... this is not acceptable in any situation.... I would have called law enforcement while blocking the boy from exiting/protecting the child...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 1:16 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 01:16:20 -0400

I'll be right back. Got to get on the computer for my reaction.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 1:29 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 01:29:02 -0400

Corporal punishment has a time and place and is effective in certain situations. A slap on the hand or a stinging pop on the ass is alright in my book. My parents used it on me and I used it on my children...always as a last resort and not abusive.

Pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to keep my composure. Probably would have ended up with me punching that fool in the face and asking him how he liked it and, if he would like to try that on someone his own size. The man dance would have been on like donkey kong!!!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 1:36 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 01:36:44 -0400

There is no possible way I would have kept my mouth shut. Honestly I probably would've begged him to do that to me! I'm guessing that is the mom? She just took him out of the store without saying a word? And who is behind the surveillance camera that they could just sit record and watch? Glad they did for the evidence but something clearly happened before hand because they were all ready following the kiddo. People like that,.......... ..ggggrrrrrr

Response by PO1 John Miller made Apr 11 at 2015 2:18 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 02:18:55 -0400

"No telling what that kid already did earlier in the day."

There is absolutely NO reason to EVER physically abuse a child.

As a parent I agree that children should be disciplined but there is a big difference between abuse and discipline. A smack on the hand or swat/paddling of the butt is fine. Punching a child? WRONG ANSWER.

My father in law is a corrections officer in California. I should ask him to ask any friends he may have in Bakersfield corrections to make sure this guy gets "preferential treatment."

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Apr 11 at 2015 7:26 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 07:26:29 -0400

I'd call the police. This is a tough one, because you don't know people's states of mind and whether or not they are carrying. Stepping in to protect/defend the child could put your life at risk.

Response by SSG Donald Mceuen made Apr 11 at 2015 7:46 AM

SSG Donald Mceuen — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 07:46:02 -0400

That punk needs to be dropped then watch him pick his ass up off the ground .
So yes it just became my business.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 8:16 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 08:16:10 -0400

Running up to the toddler and slapping him down on the ground? Are you kidding me? Jerk would have tasted my right hook. Maybe a swat on the butt but knocking him down to the ground? I was raised with spankings and switches and I turned out ok. But when my kids were little I have to say I was paranoid about punishing them in public because it's a different world now than when I was raised.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 8:21 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 08:21:00 -0400

You left out an option, beat the shit out of the douchebag.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 11 at 2015 8:26 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 08:26:54 -0400

There's a difference between discipline & abuse.

I'd like to believe if I saw anyone being abused, I'd say something. Hitting someone who can't defend themselves raises my ire to a point where my composure drops.

As CSM Private RallyPoint Member said, there's a time, place, and situation for corporal punishment. What we have here is not that.

My reaction would have been very similar to his, except there wouldn't have been a dance, as I would have grabbed a can of corn on the way to him to even the odds.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Apr 11 at 2015 9:05 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 09:05:22 -0400

Aww hell NO! You want to punch someone, try it with someone your own size.

Corporal punishment has its place and time. My parents swatted my posterior when I needed it and I'm better off for it. My own children felt the sting on their backside and they have grown to be respectable young men (one of which is now a Sgt in Army). Punching a child in the face is NEVER an acceptable option.

As for the man in the video, he would have found me standing between him an the child until law enforcement arrived. I'd be overjoyed to sign charges and testify at his abuse hearing.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 11:34 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 11:34:43 -0400

I would have also been arrested!

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Apr 11 at 2015 11:54 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 11:54:32 -0400

No way that could have been ignored... Even at its most restrictive, every ROE allows for self defense and the defense of others...

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Apr 11 at 2015 12:24 PM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 12:24:08 -0400

Face shots are always bad news.
Rage machines like this guy represent a serious danger to his child(ren) and needs to be considered a danger to society until he can understand why what he did is bad and get appropriate help.
What's worse is how common his approach is in the military, particularly among Service Members dealing with PTSD and depression. When we have a problem that we lack the tools to deal or cope with, anger is the first option, and knowing that it is wrong is not always enough to stop us from doing it.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 1:51 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 13:51:40 -0400

I chose Call the Police...because you may be able to protect him while he is in the store, and take out his vengence when he leaves the store because his child embarrassed him, however if police get involved, an intervention has been made. With that said, the parent can still punish the child when they get home...perhaps DHS would be involved by then, ..... if the police thought it was severe enough. I would probably step between child and parent...be prepared for a fight if this happens. I certainly do not want anyone telling me how I should parent. With that said, the worst punishment I gave my daughter was a slap on the hand.

Abuse is abuse, discipline is discipline, the two have many shades of gray....it isn't black and white anymore. If you discipline your child in public, you're likely going to have someone say something. It will be mistaken as abuse if discipline is given in public, anyone agree?

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Apr 11 at 2015 5:00 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 17:00:57 -0400

I would call the police but I would also protect the child. Doesn't matter what the child has done earlier in the day, a smack on the butt or thigh or even the hands are accepted in public, if you feel the need for a harsher punishment do it at home. Smacking a child in the face is plain wrong.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 5:20 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 17:20:10 -0400

I would call the police. Seems like the right thing to do. If the guy leaves, get the make, model, license plate number of his car, so the police can find him.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 5:47 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 17:47:58 -0400

Few things here, CSM.. As someone who was also raised in a different generation to Olde World (Irish) parents, there were no shortage of ass-clippings anywhere it was necessary as well as the wooden spoon. I say this not as a point of pride, but as parenting tool back then to many.

1) The (assumed) parents look young.
2) The man (father?) appears to have took a running start and almost come up off the ground to lay that poor child out. Big man, the child is probably what, 40-50 lbs if that?
3) The female (mother?), appeared unfazed by the man's actions. This is not the first time, nor will it be the last time this happens to that child. Nor to the impending child as she is pregnant.

Sadly, we will probably see that young boy doing the same to someone else in another video in 15-20 years. God bless (help) that family unit.

As to what I would have done? Hard call. My gut tells me that I would have got my Irish up on that young couple.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 11 at 2015 7:53 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 19:53:43 -0400

It is time to police up and protect the child.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 9:38 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 21:38:22 -0400

After watching the video, I wouldn't do anything for one slap. His mom took him outside and the dad walked away. None of my business unless he continued to slap the kid around. Then, I would step in and call the police.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 11:04 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 23:04:11 -0400

Well, tackle the bastard wasn't an option...

Response by COL Charles Williams made Apr 12 at 2015 12:49 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 00:49:11 -0400

Everything is situationally dependent.... I would intervene to help any child or person for that matter.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

Response by SPC David Shaffer made Apr 12 at 2015 1:41 AM

SPC David Shaffer — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 01:41:43 -0400

I have 4 kids of my own and there is no reason to ever smack a child in the face. I work be the person to follow him outside and smack the hell out of the father. It's the parents fault for the child acting that way. NOT the child's.

Response by SPC Patrick Gearardo made Apr 12 at 2015 2:04 AM

SPC Patrick Gearardo — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 02:04:54 -0400

In this day and age, I would have just minded my own business.

Did he hit the kid a little too hard, maybe. Did the kid suffer broken bones or bruises? I doubt it. With social media (big brother/everyone with a camera phone) watching everything we do and EVERYONE being able to put in their two cents, we're going to keep getting different stories like this.

Fact is, you try to get involved, then YOU can end up getting in trouble somehow. God forbid, you go to the store and then end up in court because you offended the father or mother. Yes, that's how sad our society has become.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2015 6:06 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 18:06:22 -0400

Well, CSM I believe that the last two should be combined.

Besides the violence why is the Mother not protecting her child? I mean I cannot see what a toddler could have done to deserve such violence. The Child is not aware of things in the world. Only what adults teach them.

It is great that he was arrested but the Mother should be questioned and dealt with for not doing anything. Of course the headline is vague as to if she may have walked out to get away from that dude.

That type of correction is extremely excessive for a child that age.

Response by SSG John Erny made Apr 13 at 2015 10:56 AM

SSG John Erny — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 10:56:45 -0400

Clearly the first step is to call Law Enforcement. That being said if the life of the child is in danger, do what you can with in your means. Are you physical stronger that the abuser, are your prepared to get in a fight, what if he is armed? One has to be very careful when dealing with people like this; he could be and likely is mentally ill. In this case the child was able to leave so use your cell phone, watch him from a distance and report his location to the police.

If you are in a group of people that you know and trust take him down hard and make a citizens arrest. If you feel you can over power him with out getting hurt go for it; however, you too may end up arrested and charged with assault.

Response by SSG Christopher Parrish made Apr 13 at 2015 1:23 PM

SSG Christopher Parrish — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 13:23:49 -0400

I'm all for spanking a kid who has earned corporal punishment. I watched the video, that kid looks like he needs some discipline (at a toddler's level) but what that guy did is assault and abuse.

No one should ever smack a kid so that he falls down, even with his apparent momentum. Nor should they yank a kid up by their arms like that. I have a feeling I would have come unhinged and gone after that guy, even worse if that was my kid he did that to.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 4 at 2015 4:39 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 16:39:22 -0400

It will be my business as the child is defenseless.