Soon it will become a little harder for the few abusive bouncers to strong-arm bar and restaurant patrons in Boston, if the City Council gets its way.

City Council President Michael Flaherty has proposed a law requiring bouncers, doormen and staff to undergo background checks and training before being hired.

And it is about time. From 2004 to June 2006, the Boston Licensing Department received 84 reports of bouncer violence, according to the Boston Globe.

There has been an even greater need for legislation following the Feb. 25 murder of Imette St. Guillen in a New York City bar, who police say was raped and killed by a bouncer with a criminal record.

Bouncers are put into a position of power that often goes unchecked. And when restaurant and bar owners hire bouncers background unchecked, they are asking for trouble.

Studies have long shown that even when average people are put into authoritative positions they are likely to abuse their power.

Take the Stanford Prison Experiment, in which volunteers were broken into groups and assigned the role of either prisoner or guard. The experiment quickly got out of hand, and with no supervision, the guards subjected their prisoners to abusive and sadistic behavior.

So when a violent criminal is asked to protect rowdy patrons, the mixture can spell disaster.

Background checks are key to Flaherty’s proposed law and the best way to prevent violent criminals from hurting revelers.

And since bouncers must be trusted to stay in control when confronting drunken, belligerent patrons, they should undergo screening before they are hired.

Some restaurateurs have opposed making the training and background checks mandatory, saying small business might suffer and will be unable to pick up the tab for costly training sessions.

And it is true that restaurants in the city are already tied down with the high cost of real estate and liquor licenses. But it is an important step in protecting patrons, and the City Council should consider subsidizing training for small businesses to ease the financial burden.

Many other industries, such as childcare, healthcare (visit sites like https://www.sterlingcheck.com/industries/healthcare/ to know more) and education, already require background checks for all of their employees. Restaurants and bars should be no different.