Background check rant

[Chas.]

To my knowledge, I've had 3 background checks in my life. One when I went to work for a federal agency, one when I applied for a carry permit, and one to allow me to be Sys Admin and Programmer on the computers on various nuclear plant sites.

The last one was the most involved. It was conducted by the FBI as directed by the United States Marshals Service. Although I passed all with flying colors, I still have to have another background check to get a Federal Firearms License or a Class 3 stamp. It would be nice if all agencies cooperated and shared info and just updated as necessary. But I guess each wants their piece of the pie.
Rant off.

[pwl44m]

I get about 1 every month or every time I buy a gun. They aint found Nuthin yet, I guess They are like prospectors hoping to hit pay "dirt". I don't think there is even a smudge on My record but yet after 64 years they are still looking.
Oh I forgot to turn rant on but it is off now.
Perry

[stretch]

It is out of control.

Last year I had 3 background checks. One, (the first!) was for
a new job associated with a State law enforcement
agency, and that was fairly extensive. (Mind you, the fact
that I once held a Top Secret security clearance in the USAF,
that I had a carry permit and therefore had undergone a
background check ALREADY, and that I was coming from a
job where I dealt daily with confidential Federal and State data
for neatly a decade didn't count for squat....!!) So, I passed that. Then I
needed to get into another type of State building, so I needed a (second!)
background check. They used the SAME SOFTWARE AND QUERIES,
but they had to do it again. Couldn't, apparently, believe the results of
the other agency's far more extensive check that was only a month or
two old. Just after that, I renewed my carry permit, and they had to do YET
ANOTHER (the 3rd!) background check using THE SAME TOOLS YET
AGAIN! AND THIS ONE THEY CHARGED ME FOR!!!!!!

So here we have the State wasting resources for the performance
of at least two background checks, and if I ever fly commercially again,
I'll have to be all but (and maybe NO but!) strip-searched again.

It's nuts!

-Stretch

[Mac in Mo]

The two most recent that I submitted to were to apply for a city job and one to coach my son's baseball team at the Catholic school.


Kevin

[1894c]

job security for some local, county, state, or federal employee... :(

[O.S.O.K.]

Just another symptom of a government that's completely out of control and overgrown.

We really do need a reform that includes the elimination of 80% of the existing agencies in this country - starting with the BATFE and EPA, but also the IRS and NEA.

[Griff]

Chas.,

Consider yourself lucky, at least it wasn't conducted by the Dept of Homeland Insecurity. I'm a foriegn-born US citizen, not a "Naturalized Citizen", but a citizen by right of birth. Of at least one parent (father) who was a US citizen in good standing at the time of my birth.

My 1st "background check" was done by the NSA for clearances required in the Navy. Check (after a slight hiccup... those "youthful hi-jinks", ya know). The next was conducted by the OCSO when I became a deputy. 3rd came when I got a job as a Contracting Officer spending Federal dollars (FBI), and a 4th when I joined the SO in Texas as a reserve deputy. Enter our post 9-11-01 level of paranoia and incompetency.

In order to haul hazardous materials, including explosives and weapons (which pays well), one has to now pass a background check to receive a certificate to receive the HazMat endorsement on your DL. Ok, all good right? I hold a US Passport, former Navy and LEO, right? WRONG!

Went to renew my license in 2005, paid my fees and filled out the BG form, noted 1st problem. Form asks for city & state of birth. Problem #2, then sez, "if born outside the US, enter alien registration, US Naturalization or visa #. I don't have any of those. So I write, "n/a, foriegn born US Citizen". Go off and dutifully get my fingerprints done to accompany my application.

EIGHT weeks later I receive a letter from the Department of Homeland Security which, in pertinent part states: "...due to your immigration status, you do not meet the requirements for a HazMat certification. Therefore your file is being turned over to the INS for possible deportation."

I don't know how you'd feel, but that caused a sharp spike in my blood pressure. And I know a couple of other guys in my same predicament, one of whom holds an US Army birth certificate. He got the same letter I did!

FWIW, I understand the need and reasoning behind multiple BG checks. Some, simply look for a criminal record, others look at your character and that of your associates, others may add your fiscal responsibility. Add to that, if any time has passed since your previous check, they'll want to confirm your circumstances haven't changed.

Relax, you passed, at least you didn't have a DHS political appointee, incompetent hack doin' yours!


pwl44m,

That ain't a BG check. That's just a National Criminal Information Check. I did BG checks for 3 years... we started off with your completed 28 page personal information history, added your answers to the 14 page pre-polygraph questionaire; and tore your life apart, interviewed your family, neighbors, co-workers, friends and verified EVERYTHING. I was once admonished because my rejection rate was nearly 80%, the average was just shy of 50%. That was partly because my LT would hand me a completed file and say, "...this one stinks, find out why." If you're ever the victim... er recepient of a true BG check, then you can honestly say, "...I might not be squeeky clean, but I'm ok." I can! Oh the stories....

[olyinaz]

Just another symptom of a government that's completely out of control and overgrown.

We really do need a reform that includes the elimination of 80% of the existing agencies in this country - starting with the BATFE and EPA, but also the IRS and NEA.

Well said.

Oly

[Marvin S]

Every few years I have to redo a secret one for the military. Hopefully I have done my last.

[Leverdude]

Might be annoying but its easy to understand why, if they are required at all, they should be required each time you do something that requires one. Its already obvious the govt in general has poor organizational skills. If they cant even communicate among the,selves enough to share background info they sure cant be counted on to notify everyone every time someones status changes when they get arrested or something. That said I dont see how its ok to subject people to it to excercise a civil right.

[Cliff]

They can be annoying. I did hear of one guy who was born to American Citizen parents while his father was stationed in France. He was born in a french hospital and recognized as a full U.S. Citizen. Well one time he returned to France on a vacation. Going through customs and all that stuff to get into France he was arrested as a draft dodger. The French goverment insisted he was born in France and as a result he was up for the draft in the french military. I understand he had a bit of a time convincing them he wasn't. France recognizes dual citizenship or did. Finally he got it straightened out. Goverments have a whole bunch of crazy rules, no one knows what they are. ATB

[FWiedner]

Recently started the process for a security clearance to work on projects for the nazi state.

What a pain. They want too much information on too many things.

I see it this way, if they want talent to work on their projects, they'll open the door.

Other than that, the compensation isn't enough to waste the time jumping through their hoops.

I work on more interesting projects and better technology every day without being a puppet.

They can clear me or not. No loss to me.

[KCSO]

Federal Law prohibits sharing that information, that is why you need to get seperate fingerprints for each thing you do, HHS, Bank work, truck driver ect. They are not suppose to keep the checks on file but use them and destroy. In addition each check must be timely so if you get an FFL today and next week want to uppgrade you go back to square one. Remember Bernie M passed every check but the last one.

[rimrock]

You just never know about employees. They just might form a constitutional party or create something leading to bad headlines.

rimrock

[TMair]

Chas.,

Consider yourself lucky, at least it wasn't conducted by the Dept of Homeland Insecurity. I'm a foriegn-born US citizen, not a "Naturalized Citizen", but a citizen by right of birth. Of at least one parent (father) who was a US citizen in good standing at the time of my birth.


EIGHT weeks later I receive a letter from the Department of Homeland Security which, in pertinent part states: "...due to your immigration status, you do not meet the requirements for a HazMat certification. Therefore your file is being turned over to the INS for possible deportation."

:

Did you write back and ask them if they sent the same letter to the President?
Terry

[handirifle]

Griff
You ought to tell the geniuses at homeland, and the ins, that you will go when John Mc Cain goes. Last I heard he was born in Panama, while his father was stationed there. Same status as you, but I doubt they'll ever put 2 + 2 together on that one.

I was an air traffic controller for almost 27 years, and that was probably one of he smoothest running federal agancies going, and sometimes it was an absolute freak show, trying to get anything accomplished at the upper levels. They are all so afraid to commit to a decision, that someone will later blame them for.

It's amazing ANYTHING ever gets done. Heck, the Senate hasn't ratified a budget in years. Rick Perry had a good idea in making them ALL PART TIME employees.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Federal Law prohibits sharing that information, that is why you need to get seperate fingerprints for each thing you do, HHS, Bank work, truck driver ect. They are not suppose to keep the checks on file but use them and destroy. In addition each check must be timely so if you get an FFL today and next week want to uppgrade you go back to square one. Remember Bernie M passed every check but the last one.

What we are talking about would be a single federal data base. The NRA fights that everyday and for good reason. Governments have a history of using that sort of info against there subjects.

[COSteve]

I got to agree with Griff's post about his work processing background checks. Let me add to his post by explaining the process from the recipient's perspective. Due to the highly sensitive nature of my work, I was forced to pass regular Special / Expanded Background Information checks conducted on behalf of our customers. After filling out documents that disclosed just about everything I'd ever done since I was 18, everyone I'd ever met, everywhere I'd ever lived, everywhere I'd ever gone, any associations I'd ever supported, and signing away my constitutional rights, the FBI would conduct an investigation on me lasting months.

As a part of their investigation, the FBI would interview my friends, neighbors, and co-workers in person as well as interviewing me for hours on everything I could possibly have ever done, and then once I looked to be squeaky clean, I got the pleasure of not just a Security Polygraph Session, no, I got the full boat, expanded Security and Lifestyle Polygraph Sessions! Many times these were conducted by females and they didn't hesitate to ask questions that would make any sailor squirm! Oh, did I mention that passing this background investigation was a condition of employment so if I failed, I was fired? Also, I got to go through this every 5 years for almost all of my 40+ years supporting our National Defense.

And, after passing this daunting gauntlet, I was allowed to work my head off for pay that averaged 6% less than my Government counterparts (they negotiated our labor rates), as part of management I got to 'donate' a minimum of 20% overtime to support the customer (read work weekends for free), and travel only after business hours. Yes, I got to work 7 day weeks for months at a time in windowless, armored buildings, that meant I'd miss seeing the sunlight at all for weeks at a time in the winter. It also meant I missed countless recitals, plays, games, awards, and just a whole lot of time with my family as the kids grew. Add to this that for I couldn't discuss my work at all with anyone not 'blessed' by our program nor even tell my wife or kids what I did or where I was going.

Included in all those 'benefits' were the enjoyable requirements to report any and every contact with any foreign national (even my Canadian next door neighbor), request permission to travel anywhere outside CONUS if not on business, and agree to restrictions on the places I could visit ( i.e. no communist countries), write up a report within 24 hrs of returning from any trip outside CONUS or inside CONUS if a I had any contact with a foreign national detailing what I did and anyone I spoke to. And, even though I'm retired, they still check on me and I'm subject to up to 25 years in prison if I speak of what I did without specific, written permission of the Government.

Don't get me wrong, I am far from unique in this. There are thousands of people working right now under the same requirements. It just comes with the territory sometimes when the Government trusts you to help keep it safe. So, all in all, I guess I was willing to put up with it. The only benefit I've ever gotten from all this was that my CCW permit review took only 31 days vs the std 90 days to process here in Colorado back in 2005 and the checks for firearm purchases come back quicker than most. Big whoop.