Nomorefreetime is right, we should take the heat off the SF people.
This is not related to how sharp his end is, it is a serious breach of discipline and needs to be addressed. As it would if had happened to a mess steward at High Wycombe.
I say again, let's concentrate on how the gun got from being manufactured to a SSSA house.
If he really did bring it back to camp from being out at work, why was it not handed in. Under what circumstances was it ok to keep it in his tent?
Did nobody at the gate ask him what's in the box?
Did nobody else know he had the weapon as a gift?
If he had bought it in Manchester six weeks before it was found, would the circumstances look much different?