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I hear what you're saying, but at the same time we don't know how many people they have. If they have 560 people (not saying they do, just making an example) to handle those applications, the number is ridiculously easy to process. If they have only 2, then it's ridiculously difficult. Unless someone can tell us how many they do have, the number of applications doesn't mean a whole lot, unfortunately.

Even if we *did* know that number, and it turned out that they *are* understaffed... why are they understaffed? If that 108k applications carries an average fee of $100 (some are 70, some 140 - estimating on the low side), that gives them a budget of almost $11 million just to process applications. Even if they spent HALF on software, computers, facilities, etc... $5 million is a very healthy yearly budget for employees. All of that assumes the worst case scenario... I bet that have an even larger budget.

well played ;)

I have a counter-question for this thread... would you be willing to contribute to a fund that sponsors an AUDIT of the DPS, attempting to find out what is taking so stinkin long? Not that I have the ability or desire to set up such a fund... but I'd send in $20 to help make that happen. Today's technology makes this possible in a nearly instant fashion. I think it should take a week, tops, from receipt of materials to license manufacturing. Hell, even THAT part shouldn't take as long as it does. Some points of reference:

I can go into an FFL dealer or any gun show and walk out with a pistol in a matter of minutes. They have to run a background check (yes, I know it's not as intense) and I have to fill out paperwork. I can also run the same background check on myself within a few minutes online. Again, not as intense... but 90% there.

I can apply for a job that requires an in-depth background check. For instance, the one I had to do to get my current job with a government sponsored coporation. I also had to do a drug test. Both of these came back within 3 days.

I am a member at a local gun range that issues ID cards very similar in features to a CHL. Same size plastic card, full color with picture, printed front and back. It takes about 15 minutes for them to warm up the camera, printer, and computer, then take the picture, apply it to the template along with my personal ID number, and print the card.

By my estimation, a week gives them more time than it takes everyone else to do the same stuff. Just saying... my tax dollars (including the CHL tax) support the agency that processes these things. Even if there is more to it than what I listed... is 5 weeks still not enough? how about 8? sheesh...

that's a different discussion for a different thread. I'm not disagreeing, just saying please take it elsewhere

all arguments about the "constitutional right" issue aside, I'll buck the trend and say that I *would* pay more. I would also hope that should such an option ever become available, it's done in a fair way. For instance, the extra money goes towards overnight fees for paperwork, etc. Or maybe it goes towards hiring another person to help process... it would depend heavily on where the bottlenecks are.

On the other hand, I would also like to think that the state is currently processing applications as fast as is humanly possible, and there there are no potential gains from a "fast lane". Given the current state of technology... I cannot explain why it takes as long as it currently does. It makes me think that the process is somewhat broken and it couldn't go any faster even if we did pay for it.