Does your gun club/hunt club perform a background check on new members? I was at my clubs meeting last night and they voted about 6 people in and several of them were recommended by members just because "they met them at a public shoot and they seemed like an okay person". Club bylaws state that two active/good standing members with one year or more seniority have to sign for that person and 99% of the time its someone both people have know for awhile. Last night we heard a lot of "well i met that guy at the public shoot and he seemed like a nice guy" and someone asked if we run background checks on new members and we were told no!
I will say i was shocked that they don't do a basic background check on new members to make sure no one has a criminal record. When asked what the $85 initiation fee goes too we were told it goes into the general fund. Of course this turned the club house into a free for all with members saying well someone signed for them so its good enough and that's the bylaws so there is no discussion. Some members voiced legal liability concerns if the club did let a felon or what not in there and something happened and worried we could be shut down. What got me was dues are $65-year and initiation fee is $85 and they proposed to raise the initiation fee to cover the cost of the background check. Well its already $20 over the yearly dues. I was actually shocked how many people opposed this stating invasion of privacy, well if the guy has a gun he must not be a felon, ask to see the persons ccw upon starting the application process, scratch the idea all together and take members words on it.
We get to argue some more next meeting and see where this goes but it got me wondering how many clubs DO NOT do background checks?
I will say i was shocked that they don't do a basic background check on new members to make sure no one has a criminal record. When asked what the $85 initiation fee goes too we were told it goes into the general fund. Of course this turned the club house into a free for all with members saying well someone signed for them so its good enough and that's the bylaws so there is no discussion. Some members voiced legal liability concerns if the club did let a felon or what not in there and something happened and worried we could be shut down. What got me was dues are $65-year and initiation fee is $85 and they proposed to raise the initiation fee to cover the cost of the background check. Well its already $20 over the yearly dues. I was actually shocked how many people opposed this stating invasion of privacy, well if the guy has a gun he must not be a felon, ask to see the persons ccw upon starting the application process, scratch the idea all together and take members words on it.
We get to argue some more next meeting and see where this goes but it got me wondering how many clubs DO NOT do background checks?