Not Again!

This really wasn't supposed to be some sort of anti-law enforcement week, but according to the story in the title link, a cop who lost his loaded gun and left it in a courthouse bathroom was only given a written reprimand as punishment.

The average citizen isn't trusted to carry a firearm for self defense in many states and yet we have another story about a law enforcement person doing something stupid with a gun. If I remember correctly, shortly before Thanksgiving a female air marshall did the same thing at an airport bathroom and received a similarly light punishment.

I understand that people make mistakes, but stories like this really bug me. Why is it that law enforcement staff who lose their loaded guns in secure areas are considered more trustworthy with firearms than responsible citizens who would like to be able to carry a concealed handgun for self defense?