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Violinist has right to bear arms

A concert violinist has been given a gun permit so he can protect his £6million Stradivarius violin.

Matteo Fedeli, 36, travels all round Italy with his rare instrument and has been given police permission to protect it with a 357 Smith and Wesson Magnum.

He said he also has a team of bodyguards wherever he goes with the instrument who plan his route and make sure he is not followed. He also has an armed escort as he travels to his concerts.

“Thankfully I’ve never had to use my gun - but a 357 Magnum is certainly a useful deterrent,” he said. “I did once have a concert though where the crowd started to get a bit close to me and the violin and my bodyguards quickly made a human barrier around me.

“Anyone would tried to steal a rare instrument would be a bit silly though because they have satellite alarms built in and it’s not as if they could just go and sell it at an auction without being noticed anyway.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .