TexasCHLforum.com

I really don't have any feelings for Utah instructors one way or the other to be honest. In truth, I never saw any of their advertising, I heard about it word of mouth. However, two of the gripes that I'm sensing with the Utah CWP advertising was what attracted me to it. It was easier in the sense that it took less of a commitment of my time and it was cheaper (cost me a total of $140.25 for both class and State/Federal fees). To be honest, the range qualification portion of the Texas CHL class I took was way too simple. If Ford came out with a truck that had more horsepower, towing capacity and was cheaper than than their competitors and they advertised it as such, would it make it okay for Chevy, Dodge and Toyota to pout over the advertising? That's what this sounds like to me. I have no vested interest in either the Utah or the Texas CHL. I'm just a "consumer" if you will. Perhaps State legislators should be lobbied to reduce the amount of required classroom time and make the fees more affordable and eliminate the joke of the range qualification. Instructors could then reduce the cost of the class since it would be a shorter duration. Maybe then the Texas CHL instructors would be able to attract more "consumers" that would otherwise opt to go with the "competitor". These are all just my humble opinions.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:The Utah license wasn't a "big deal" until one Utah instructor started advertising in an grossly irresponsible way, only to be copied by equally irresponsible Utah instructors. Their conduct has infuriated very powerful political activists in Texas and now we have a very big problem that isn't going away. In fact, it gets bigger every day.

BTW, did your Utah instructor teach Texas law in your Utah class. Did he teach Utah law?

It's probably too late now, but your TR-100 training certificate is/was good for two years on an initial Texas CHL.

Chas.

My Utah instructor most certainly did go over Texas laws with us. Utah laws first, then Texas laws and the ensuing "quiz" covered both as well. I already knew from my Texas CHL class that guns and alcohol never mix but found it interesting that in Utah the legal blood-alcohol content for carrying a firearm is the same as for driving a vehicle (0.08). I actually found it more enjoyable than the Texas class I took because there was no extra flim-flam involved. Just the facts. If you don't mind my asking, I did not read every post, what was the nature of the irresponsible advertising?

Long-time lurker here. I'm not sure what the big deal is about the Utah CHL. I recently obtained my Utah CHL (CWP). I originally took my Texas CHL course in February '09, wife got laid off right after and writing a check to Texas for my CHL just wasn't in our restricted budget. She got her job back but by the time we had the spare money to write that check to Texas it had already been a year since I took the Texas course and I would have had to re-take it again. I had a perfect score on the range qualification in my Texas course. I heard about the Utah license and it made financial sense to me to obtain it. I don't believe that folks specifically go out of their way to get the Utah CHL because it does not require range qualification or a test. The Texas course I took was stuffed with a bunch of "filler" material, funny YouTube videos (FBI guy shoots self in foot, "Gun Free Zone" and many many many more) to make that 10 hour time requirement. I personally think it would behoove Texas to cut to the chase and have instructors teach what should be known in regard to the law, legalities and responsibilities and then have some sort of assessment whether it be an actual test (Texas course) or like the "test" in my Utah class where it was an open discussion powerpoint type of "test" (there were 3 guys in my Utah course). Again, I don't believe that folks would get their CHL only to avoid having any type of training or proficiency with the weapon they plan on carrying. Afterall, legally carrying a firearm is a big responsibility that I don't think anyone takes lightly. I belive the main factor in folks getting their Utah CHL is plain to see. Bottom line, it is less of a monetary commitment and requires less classroom time. Those were my deciding factors anyways. Let the flaming begin.