They're not very friendly in Austin, are they?

[aardwolf]

The companies doing employment background checks are probably for profit businesses.

$30.25 of the Utah fee goes to the FBI for their full background check with prints.

At the other end of the scale, NICS is probably pretty cheap.

[agbullet2k1]

One thing I can guarantee adds time is having to run a check on someone with multiple past addresses. It's been a few years since I submitted my app, but didn't we have to put down addresses for the past 5 years? I know my license took awhile because I was fresh out of college and I'd moved 5 times in 3 different counties. They had to wait for results from all of those counties and cities.

I had 3 extra sheets of addresses attached to mine. I think you just sank whatever hope I had of getting mine before my vacation in August.

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

Hang in there buddy. Honestly, I don't even remember how long it took. I think I took my class in March of '05. A friend I took the class with had his CHL issued in late April or early May, I'm pretty sure I got mine in early August. I wasn't keeping track at the time, so I really don't remember for sure. I'll ask my friend and see if he remembers.

Added: How long is your initial license good for? Mine expires in 2011, so it may have been 2006 when I took my class, not '05.

[pedalman]

One thing I can guarantee adds time is having to run a check on someone with multiple past addresses. It's been a few years since I submitted my app, but didn't we have to put down addresses for the past 5 years? I know my license took awhile because I was fresh out of college and I'd moved 5 times in 3 different counties. They had to wait for results from all of those counties and cities.

In the background checks I do on my employees, they're usually back in 3-5 days if they've been at the same address for 5 years or more. It has taken up to 2 weeks to get background checks back if my new hires have lived in several places. They have to run checks in cities, counties, and sometimes states. Granted, that shouldn't make it add up to 180 days, but if you have multiple applications with detailed background checks, maybe that is a reason it takes so long.

This sounds encouraging. I've lived in the same house since 1989, and been in my present job for 7 years. Hopefully, my check should go a little quicker.

[red2000vette]

A couple of comments. First, I am a retired gov't employee. My agency bent backwards to present a positive image to the public we served. If my phone rang for twenty minutes without being answered I'd have been given a swift kick in the pants by my supervisor. Couldn't be fired because, well you know, but a good kick in the pants would have been issued to me. I would at least expect to be given the courtesy of politeness over the phone once my call was answered given the fact that it RANG 3,437 TIMES.

Next, DPS does nothing with the fingerprint cards you submit with your application. They go on file. There is no FBI fingerprint check. They do the same phone based check they do when you purchase a handgun in Texas. The Texas statewide search is done on-line and it their own system so it costs them diddly squat. What does take a wee bit of time is that DPS goes out of their way make sure you are not behind in your property taxes before they issue you a CHL. What this has to do with your right protect yourself is beyond me. But hey, that's just me.

I feel that each instance where a PIN number is not issued within the 60 day window allowed by law is a cause for concern. We applied for the license in good faith with the understanding that the gov't would do what they promised in return - forget about the fact that we sent them 140.00. That's not the point. If someone felt they needed to protect themselves for specific reasons - they could be shot dead while waiting for the bureaucracy to chug along at its own chosen pace.

Believe me, there is no way the DPS is losing money on this deal. The money is going somewhere to benefit someone besides the folks who have applied for a CHL and the clerks working in the office.

This is an administrative issue that can be corrected with nothing more than good management chased by a little dose of competence.

[Ultamatule]

Well said Vette.

I have a sneaky suspicion that they are starting to chug along and turn out licenses. CHL phones are not being answered and a lot of folks in here are getting their licenses finally. So I am hoping someone lit a fire under some people up there and they are turning out licenses. I am only hoping anyway.

I am on day 125 after all....

[Charles L. Cotton]

A couple of comments. First, I am a retired gov't employee. My agency bent backwards to present a positive image to the public we served. If my phone rang for twenty minutes without being answered I'd have been given a swift kick in the pants by my supervisor. Couldn't be fired because, well you know, but a good kick in the pants would have been issued to me. I would at least expect to be given the courtesy of politeness over the phone once my call was answered given the fact that it RANG 3,437 TIMES.

Next, DPS does nothing with the fingerprint cards you submit with your application. They go on file. There is no FBI fingerprint check. They do the same phone based check they do when you purchase a handgun in Texas. The Texas statewide search is done on-line and it their own system so it costs them diddly squat. What does take a wee bit of time is that DPS goes out of their way make sure you are not behind in your property taxes before they issue you a CHL. What this has to do with your right protect yourself is beyond me. But hey, that's just me.

I feel that each instance where a PIN number is not issued within the 60 day window allowed by law is a cause for concern. We applied for the license in good faith with the understanding that the gov't would do what they promised in return - forget about the fact that we sent them 140.00. That's not the point. If someone felt they needed to protect themselves for specific reasons - they could be shot dead while waiting for the bureaucracy to chug along at its own chosen pace.

Believe me, there is no way the DPS is losing money on this deal. The money is going somewhere to benefit someone besides the folks who have applied for a CHL and the clerks working in the office.

This is an administrative issue that can be corrected with nothing more than good management chased by a little dose of competence.

Did you work for DPS? How did you come by this information that is contrary to everything that has been presented to everyone in numerous committees and as recently as two weeks ago?

Do you realize that, if no FBI fingerprint check is made, then the Texas CHL would not be exempt from NICS? Are you saying Texas has snookered the FBI into giving us NICS exemption without the statutorily-required FBI fingerprint check?

Texas is not the POC (Point of Contact) for firearms purchases in Texas, so by what statutory authority does Texas access the NICS database?


Expressing opinions is fine, but you are making statements of fact that are contrary to everything I know to be true, so please back them up.

Chas.

[melkor41]

My NICS checks go through so fast I always crack up as the gun seller scrambles for a pen to write the confirmation number. So by your information my CHL should be here tommrow for my 33rd day

[bdickens]

That's good to hear. My NICS checks are nearly instantaneous, too.

[Opus Dei]

Well said Vette.

I have a sneaky suspicion that they are starting to chug along and turn out licenses. CHL phones are not being answered and a lot of folks in here are getting their licenses finally. So I am hoping someone lit a fire under some people up there and they are turning out licenses. I am only hoping anyway.

I am on day 125 after all....

Day 125? That's unconscionable.

I've noticed the inability to get through, also. For days. One can only guess what that means...

[G Wagner]

One must add in the time for the plastic to be manufactured. From what I was told a few years ago, the CHL licenses are only produced a few times each month, whereas, the DL's are made on the days the CHLs are not. Reason being that the outside company has to re-tool.

Wonder how many days a month the CHLs are made, now?

[old farmer]

Well said Vette.

I have a sneaky suspicion that they are starting to chug along and turn out licenses. CHL phones are not being answered and a lot of folks in here are getting their licenses finally. So I am hoping someone lit a fire under some people up there and they are turning out licenses. I am only hoping anyway.

I am on day 125 after all....

Is your birthday in Dec? I am on day 100 with birthday in Nov. The renewal is 6 month before your birthday?

[asleepatthereel]

As for cost v. revenue, I don't have any specific information. At full fee ($140 or $70) I seriously doubt that the State loses money on the program. However, we now have a lot of people who are not paying the full fee. Many people are only paying $35 for renewals rather than $70 and some number of people aren't paying any fee. I do know the FBI charges each submitting agency (DPS) $35 per fingerprint card to run background checks, so the senior renewal fee of $35 covers only the FBI background check and none of the work/processing done by DPS. I strongly suggest we not make fees an issue! If we do, someone's going to take a look at the true numbers and we'll be paying more for renewals.

Chas.

I hadnt considered that. Once again you are the voice of reason. Id hate to have to pay another 140 come time to renew. Itll probably be more than what it is currently anyway, but hopefully not by too much. I think the most we can do right now is come here and vent our frustrations, as like you said, nothing can be done until the next legislature anyway. In the meantime, we could contact our reps and express our displeasure with the system and ask that when they meet next that something besides discussion should be done about it. I didnt work for DPS directly, but I did work for the TDCJ-ID for 14 years until 2001, and I can say without a doubt that DPS and TDC are at the bottom of the pecking order when it comes to funding. Its that way now, and unfortunately will probably continue to be, regardless of what the politicians tell us about their concern for public safety, which should be the top priority in the legislature. For example, how many of you have seen the prison busses with the billboards on back saying they are hiring? What the signs dont say is how little the jobs pay. Thats one of the reasons they cant fill positions.They are so short staffed on the units that the Correctional Officers are required to work overtime. Its not an option. I dont know about DPS, but I have seen the signs on some of the cruisers too, so they may be in the same boat. Bottom line is the money is there, its just allocated to things other than LE and CHL. It needs to be fixed, and the only way to do it is to spend the money more wisely.
End of rant. Thanks Charles.

[flintknapper]

One must add in the time for the plastic to be manufactured. From what I was told a few years ago, the CHL licenses are only produced a few times each month, whereas, the DL's are made on the days the CHLs are not. Reason being that the outside company has to re-tool.

Wonder how many days a month the CHLs are made, now?

Now theres a new "angle" for the folks in Austin.

I mean....it does take time to drill for the oil that provides the petroleum products to make plastic with.

Unless of course, its synthetic plastic (made from cellulose), then the argument becomes less sustainable.



I say lets move the entire operation to Deep East Texas...and I will take charge of it.

[Keith B]

I say lets move the entire operation to Deep East Texas...and I will take charge of it.

I vote for that. You could get Earle the Squirrel to put a paw print on them as the official seal and approval!