Involvment in shooting sports: Red flag?

[MrWingo]

I figured this might come up during a BI, so I'll ask in advance.

I belong to a gun club and own a few pistols and rifles. I'm also a member of a couple of online communities having to do with rifle and pistol shooting. On several occasions I've sought formal training from qualified instructors, and it's generally been a very fun hobby.

My question is, will my membership or involvement in this raise a red flag during hiring? Will previous discussions on the internet about my dislike of my state's strict firearms laws be a problem? I've always been conscious about the laws (both state and federal) regarding guns, and have always operated within their parameters.

I'd have no trouble articulating the fact that while I dislike certain laws (and write my state and local reps accordingly whenever new bills come up), I would have no problem enforcing them. If I'm open and honest about this sort of thing if it ever comes up, will there be a problem?

[Wombat311]

I don't see why it would be a problem. It's perfectly legal for you to do those things and everyone has an opinion on gun laws.

I don't see how this would have any effect on your application - adverse or favourable.

[MrWingo]

Well, we've all got our hobbies and interests. I'm from the midwestern USA, where we grow up with that sort of thing. However, given that it's a highly contentious issue, I figured I'd ask. You have all been so very helpful in answering my other questions.

[Wombat311]

Well, don't just take my word for it. I'm not from the US. But since it wouldn't be a problem here, I fail to see why it would be one there.

[Johninaustin]

Most of the guys that will be doing your background have the same hobby. :D

[207]

I don't believe it would be a problem although everything varies State to State. Your views on issues are just your opinion and shouldn't really come into play.
If anything it should be a plus. You are about to enter a field that requires one to carry/handle firearms and having a "working" knowledge of firearms would be helpful.

The university I work for has a justice & law program and MOST of the students that go through these classes have never touched a firearm in their lives. It can get rather exciting at the academy range.
Anyway, being a "anti-gun" campus, although we are armed, I had a discussion with one of the anti-gun J&L professors, who's also a PhD and a lawyer, about if they are going to teach prospective LEO's they should be familiar with firearms too. Well, a State trooper who happened to be taking a class made the arrangements, took about a dozen students to the range on a Saturday, and put them through a safety course and then shot.

The outcome was the students loved it and the anti-gun professor who also attended this class thought it was great and he's applying for his pistol permit.
On a different occassion we welcomed a state prosecutor to our range who lived alone, didn't feel safe, and wasn't a big fan of guns... she is now.

The bottom line is, don't worry about it. I doubt you'll be getting into a debate during the course of your BI.

[corporal716]

On my first phyic oral the Doc asked how may guns I owned and asked me to explain what I used each one for.

I got the Job so it wasn't really an issue.

[mxwelch]

Man I hope not. I better not go to the combat match this weekend just to be safe. :D

[0311Marine]

I very much doubt it will be an issure. I was in the military and was constantly training to kill people, and I know a couple LEO's that were as well, training to hit paper targets shouldnt really bother them that much.

[Jim_Linch]

On my BI the Sgt. pulled my IPSC state "points challenge" score off the internet when he searched for my name. Nothing was really said about it other than "I see you like to shoot."

Every now and then I run a Google for my name and did recently because I'm applying for another job. Now there is like 4 pages of my internet forum postings (all gun related) that comes back!

I got the first job no problem so I guess it's not an issue. Course if I had it to do over I would not have used my name as my screen name, but hey! I'm who I am, don't hate me because I like guns and shooting!

[Valor55]

Some of the biggest gun nuts and pro 2nd Amendment folks I've ever met are cops. As long as what you are doing is legal you will never have problems with it.

[TPDHellhound]

I don't know of any agency that will punish you for being part of a gun club. Having experience with a firearm will assist you in the academy when you go. But I highly recommend learning the correct way to shoot (which I'm sure you are), through a professional trainer, because it's difficult to correct poor habits.