Gun club background checks?

[mgmorden]

Our local club doesn't run background checks to my knowledge. Mostly the same as yours - you need a recommendation from 2 members in good standing and then you need 2 votes at a meeting to get in (though there's currently a waiting list since membership is capped).

There's a $700 initiation fee which they used to allow you to pay over a 5 year period however as of recently they've decided to only offer to break it up into 2 payments 1 year apart.

 

[Powder296]

I've been shooting at NRA Fairfax since the day they opened, the only requirement is passing a basic firearm saftey test to get a range card. You must have a range card to shoot there. There have been a few ranges in Virginia over the years that when they opened they said they were doing background checks, the ones that are still in business don't require that anymore, as a survival strategy.

 

[bikemutt]

I guess one question concerning shooting ranges and BG checks losing business might be did they lose the business from scaring off felons, or from upsetting people who resent being BG checked?

 

[CoalTrain49]

I guess one question concerning shooting ranges and BG checks losing business might be did they lose the business from scaring off felons, or from upsetting people who resent being BG checked?

Exactly.

My club is in a high population density area, 750,000 people in that county. They do checks (not NICS) because they can and anyone who decides they don't need that can look for another place to shoot. The problem is the next ranges are 50 miles south and 75 miles north. Or you can try and find a gravel pit 75 miles east that might not be gated. Most of them were all gated and locked years ago. I know because that's where I used to shoot. Some folks just shoot on Thursday when our range is open to the public but it's crowded and if you went every week like I do it would cost you about $500/yr. I pay $50/yr. and do some service time.

I think it all depends on where you live but very little to do with the "free state" as others have posted. Private clubs aren't open to everyone. They aren't public restrooms. I know, that's pretty unfair. If one feels disenfranchised sue the club. They have lots of money and insurance. A 50K lawsuit wouldn't shut them down. People have tried.