OldCannon wrote:
I'm just throwing all this out for folks to chew on. I mean, if you're going to take the big step to alter the CHL requirements, I think it's important to consider the full spectrum of options, ranging from Washington style (no training required at all) to Texas style (generally the "hardest" and most-expensive in the US, when all costs are factored in).
Texas is certainly not the hardest and most expensive in the US. In fact, it is almost as easy as getting a drivers license for a first timer.
I am one of fewer than 2000 who have had a CHL in San Diego. Most counties here are all but impossible, and a couple ARE impossible to get permits in. When I got mine, the cost was about $500, fees, instruction, testing, etc. I need 3 letters from citizens who knew me, a letter from the Board of Directors of the company and a letter from my "care partner" (fka wife, for those if you who have never been to California!) after completing a 20 page "application" fingerprints, photos, etc. Not least, I had to demonstrate "good moral character." The shooting test was somewhat more involved than the test required in Texas. I had to do the same course of fire with each of the three handguns (only those listed on the DOJ list of approved handguns) maximum I am allowed to designate on my permit by make, model and serial number, although the maximum distance to the target is 7 yards, and the course of fire is 15 rounds, 11 of which have to be inside the marked target area. No magazines may have more than ten rounds, of course, unless you can prove you owned them prior to sometime nearly 20 years ago.
The permit, when issued, was "for business purposes only." I have no idea what this means, although I suppose I must inquire of any threat whether it is business or personal. The whole process is carried out with the same enthusiasm and eagerness of a cat being given a bath, IOW they would rather not be doing it, although the Deputies I dealt with on the range were friendly good guys, gun nuts, so to speak, aficionados.
I'm looking forward to getting to Texas and getting a permit, so relaxed, efficient, inexpensive, and hassle free!
