[MR] background checks in the SCA.

[Michael Bresnahan]

A lot of the members of the SCA have chosen to be proficient at a very
violent sport.  Many of us carry very effective weapons most of the time
that could serve as a deterrent to most criminal activity at events.
Criminals tend to be spineless and are afraid of good old western justice.
However, sexual predators are not like the average criminal.  They are
driven beyond reason and will attempt to satisfy their needs even among the
threat of heavy deterrent.  At our events they would most likely be aware
that, if caught, our own form of justice would prevail.  Yet this would most
likely not stop them, even if it meant they would get beaten to death with
big sticks, literally.  I don't mean to sound cruel, but I just adopted a
newborn who is now seven months old, and I could not imagine what I would do
if somebody hurt him now, or even when he's 50.  I just do not think reason
would prevail. Prevention, in the form of background checks, no matter what
the cost, is worth it if it saves even one innocent child from that evil! 
Michael