Back in January, Benjamin Srigley likely saved the life of young Jayeon Simon after he was set upon by three Pit Bulls. Srigley ran into his home, retrieved his Ruger 9mm pistol and opened fire on the attacking canines, killing one. That attracted a nearby DCPD beat officer who took out the other two. A clear case of a good deed done, right? It would have been, if Srigley didn’t live in Washington D.C. Instead, it’s possession of unregistered firearms that can get you a year in the pokey. But as washingtontimes.com details, authorities have deigned to be lenient. Kinda . . .
As part of the agreement, Benjamin Srigley, 39, was required to pay a $1,000 fine but will not have criminal charges filed against him for the three unregistered firearms and the ammunition that investigators found in his possession, said Ted Gest, a spokesman for the office of the attorney general.
“We took it into account that he saved this boy’s life,” Mr. Gest said.
That was mighty big of the attorney general, no? Well, not entirely.
Answering the door at his home, a duplex with a stone facade and well-manicured yard, Mr. Srigley held his own dog back from his front door and declined Friday to comment on the case because it is still technically pending in court. The office of the attorney general is deferring prosecution, meaning it will remain active while Mr. Srigley meets conditions set by authorities.
Who knows? If Srigley’s firearms had been destined for Mexican drug thugs instead of kept for his own personal defense, he might have gotten off scot-free.
