British toff loses gun permit as he "flagrantly abused the privilege"

[Pert_UK]

"A judge has refused a bid by Princess Diana's former lover James Hewitt to have his gun licence returned.

Judge Charles Byers said Mr Hewitt had "flagrantly abused the privilege" which came with being allowed to possess shotguns and rifles.

London's Blackfriars Crown Court heard how the "drunken" ex-major had left one of his weapons on his living room floor. The judge said one of the most "troubling" aspects was that Mr Hewitt had allowed a friend to use his 16-bore shotgun.

The judge said the friend had used the gun on a number of occasions, when the law required it be kept in a gunsmith's locked steel cabinet when the owner did not need it...

Judge Byers also said..."Moreover, we are satisfied he lied to the police." He said Mr Hewitt had shown he "lacked proper self-control". "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4043595.stm

In the UK, if you don't obey the strict gun laws then you lose your guns. Does anybody think that's it's unfair to take guns away from someone who has proven that they'll treat them without due care and attention?

Incidentally, it wasn't that Hewitt just let his friend "use" the gun - he must have let him borrow it and take it away. There's nothing to stop me shooting somebody else's gun if I'm out with them shooting, you just can't legally allow them to borrow it and take it away.