Hi Steve,

For the past several months there has been a contraversy over volenteer Ham radio operators having to get back ground checks for clearence to be able to work emergencies, and in emergency operations centers in training or emergencies.

The background checks are ordered by HOMELAND SECURITY to all counties, sheriffs, and other emergency responder NGO's because they are afraid of civilians working emergencies who could possibily give out information on some of the actual goings on. and that they will be able to control the people who are checked.

Their stated reasons are to prevent enemy agents, from being involved and gaining access to information concerning an emergency.

The stated reasons are to keep enemy agents out of EOC's who could possibly sabotage or gain information.

Most hams who are affiliated with RACES, ARES, MARS, and the RED CURSE are droping out of the organizations because they believe that a volenteer should not have to be subjected to background checks if they are not being paid. The Salvation Army are going along with this yet as far as I know.

We as Hams cannot accept gratuity and should not have to give private personal information to volenteer to serve their communities.

It has been frequently stated that Amateur Radio is usually the first to communicate during or after a disaster or emergency.

The American Radio Relay League ARRL has made a policy statement that a criminal check is OK but financial and other types of checks are not acceptal.

I have dropped out of MARS, ARES, and RACES. I have worked about 60 different kinds of emergencies over the past 47 years, including Katrina, many fires, floods, etc.

Blessings
Dave