Bridgeport Residents Protest Against Cop who Accidentally Shot Himself

Local news reports with video

Protesters in Bridgeport are demanding that criminal charges be filed against the police officer who accidentally shot himself at a bagel shop last week.

Officer Juan Santiago shot himself in the leg at the Bagel King on Main Street. Police say the gun used in the shooting was not his service weapon.

Demonstrators gathered outside police headquarters yesterday. They say officer Santiago should have been charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm and reckless endangerment.

Many of the protesters are licensed gun carriers. One resident, Elizabeth Drysdale, said, "Had that been me, my permit would have been revoked, my firearms would have been seized, and I would have been arrested on the spot."

City officials say state police are investigating the incident, and the officer is out on sick leave. 

It's interesting that some of the demonstrators are gun owners themselves, but not surprising.  There's a widespread resentment of the cops among many gun owners. I find it a bit exaggerated.  The fact is civilian gun owners get away with this kind of gun misuse all the time. It's even been defended on this blog with the observation that no one else was injured.

Nevertheless, despite the petty motivations of the demonstrators, they are exactly right. All gun misuse should be punished. If we did that consistently, many second, third and fourth offenses would be prevented.