public function checkProfileEditPermission($user_id) {
    $current_user_id = App::make('sentry')->getUser()->id;

    // edit his profile
    if ($user_id == $current_user_id) {
      return true;
    }
    // has special permission to edit other user profiles
    $edit_perm = Config::get('authentication::permissions.edit_profile');
    if ($this->hasPermission($edit_perm)) {
      return true;
    }

    return false;
  }