Criminal Background Screening against fair housing act? REALLY?

[Andrew S.]

I had a conversation with a PM (large local firm) yesterday and was told that they can no longer conduct criminal background checks on prospective tenants, because "fair housing and anti discrimination rules prohibit it"!  REALLY?  I find this very hard to believe - have we really come so far as to protect criminals as a class?  This is not a tiny PM company, but, by their own claims, one of the largest in the state (NC). 

Has anyone else come across this issue?  Is it truly better to avoid "discrimination" and let an ax muderer or child molester move into your property?  What about my liability if I unknowingly rent to a felon and something bad happens to one of my other tenants?