Being a cop is a job that involves a lot more than using a firearm. In fact most situations do not call for a firearm. A large number of them are not gun people, and only have one because they are issued it.
Someone not very into firearms, required to carry it casualy every day, taking it on and off, loading and unloading is more likely to have an accident in the same time period than someone who takes them seriously and has enjoyed them responsibly in hobbies on thier own time following safety rules.
So officers are going to have a higher number of firearm related accidents than most samples of the general public. That does not necessarily mean they are more dangerous, there is many people that would be more dangerous, but they are not required to carry a firearm.
They are more likely to have an accident with them than the average firearm hobbyist.
So the number of hours and number of armed individuals carrying a firearm who only do so as a part of thier job is bound to eventualy catch up with them. It is not like most actualy use firearms often, whether practicing plinking/ target shooting, hunting or shootings. They just carry it on a belt. So they are not really excercising and reinforcing positive responsible use often.
They also routinely break the 4 rules as part of thier occupation. Many individuals they don't wish to destroy, and who are not necessarily a danger, but MAY be a danger are approached or held at gunpoint.
So many factors add up to actualy make them as a whole more inclined to accidents with firearms.
Here is another bad video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n2VLmqCXL0
The suspect handcuffed on the ground almost dies, and has the top of his head (likely where she was aiming) right next to the point of impact. It also just misses her partner on the suspect.
I wonder if he would have been "reaching for something" had he died.
There is a lot to learn from improper handling, and I am sure officers will highlight many mistakes to help reinforce the need for safety to other officers.
We are all just people. Police try to weed out some of the less responsible people in the hiring process. That helps, but they are also not necessarily firearm enthusiasts either. They are a wide range of people from different backgrounds, and carrying and handling, unloading and loading something they are not that familiar with day after day leaves more time for error.
I think the OPs point is valid, they are not
better that everyone else with firearms. They are simply people, and anyone who says they are safer with firearms than other citizens usualy has an agenda. That agenda is usualy gun control.
