Got a Funny call from my state rep today

[AggieBonz02]

I don't mean to step on anybody's toes here, but all this talk about "cutting in line" is ridiculous and makes me laugh. What is this mythical line you speak of? I could understand if there were any reason to the rhyme down in Austin, but there is not. No FIFO, no FILO, no LIFO and no LILO. There is no line. There is no schedule. There is only a pot of applicants. Period.

Explain to me why some are approved in a matter of weeks (without elected representative intervention, even) while others must wait and wonder for months on end? Explain to me why I received my PIN# in 15 days and my wife has not received hers yet, though the applications were mailed on the same day?

Don't you people understand that these same elected representatives that we are contacting will be the ones that decide our fate in the future? Why not contact them and voice our concerns? After all, these are the same legislators that gave us concealed carry and could just as easily take it away. If given the power to do so, they could bring great harm to our nation. Elected officials just like them do it every day in cities and towns, states and the country as a whole every day. I recommend every person contact their state representative after 60 days. Make them do their job.

And, for what it's worth, I think we shouldn't take the "budget" as an excuse. This is the goverment. The same government that spends $40,000 on a hammer. The government has emergency money. As soon as this becomes an emergency, it will become a priority.

Somebody else can have my soapbox. I'm finished.

[AEA]

My thoughts are that Texas is a Shall Issue State and they have set rules that they MUST follow.
If/since they are having problems meeting their mandated time lines for WHATEVER reason, they should simply issue the Licenses.

In other words, follow their own rules and instead of delaying even one day, issue the license.
They can always revoke the license if something comes back later that is not acceptable.

[The_Vigilante]

+1 on the comment from AggieBonz02.

[wrinkles]

I emailed my Rep about a week and a half ago and he hasn't responded to my email not even a canned response.
Guess that tells me how important he thinks this problem is.

[Liko81]

You know, the irony of all this is that the problem was created by and exists because of the very legislators that everyone is calling for help.

Had they given DPS an adequate budget, none of this would be happening!

Would you honestly have expected applications to increase by 40% over the course of about 9 months?

Seriously, they did the best they could. They have to abide by their own set of laws governing how the budget is set up. They were also worried about a budget shortfall at the time. Maybe Perry could call for an emergency session to amend the budget, but the man most directly responsible for putting the budget together in the first place is the Governor himself (one of his very few executive powers). Trust me; Perry is WELL aware of the problem in the CHL office.

[bdickens]

If you aren't contacting your reps when your application takes longer that 60 days to process, then you are enabling the problem to continue. Sitting on your hands and muttering to yourself "oh, well. I guess that's just how it goes. I don't want to stir up any trouble. I'll just be patient" does not solve anything. The problem will never be corrected until the legislature is made aware of the widespread nature of the delays. The legislature will never be made aware unless you tell them.

Sheesh! the way some of you people think, it's a wonder the CHL law got passed in the first place.

[getusumtx]

Hmm, this doesn't sounds like what you posted earlier. I quote

Well if he can get my application moved through quicker, I may actually vote for him... Even though it would be crossing party lines..

The point I was trying to make was, voting for a rep that actually does something to help me rather than just blow off my letter. I never mentioned to him in my email. As some people in this forum have already expressed,they rep hasn't even contacted them back. Which is unacceptable for any elected official. Lastly, I highly doubt any of yall would actually turn down your rep if he called and said I can have your license printed tomorrow. Lets be honest here guys. We all want our license just as fast as the next guy, and somehow feel slighted when someone who applies after us gets theirs first. Thats what prompted my letter. So, sorry if i offended yall by using my available resources to get things moving. If you like, I will gladly draft a letter that you can send to your rep as well.

-Matt

[agbullet2k1]

My letters are written, and I only need to date and stamp before sending. They have 4 more days to fulfill their duty.

It's sad that this is the first thing I've ever felt compelled to write my representatives about. My grandfather sent his senator (MS-Lott) at least 2 letters each month for his whole tenure of office. I guarantee he knew who my grandfather was, as we found at least 20 handwritten responses from the man himself while cleaning out my grandfather's house. It would be nice to be known by those that represent me as a person more than as a vote.

[03Lightningrocks]

I love how the point keeps getting lost in all the smoke.

Let's try this one more time.

Sending an email to your rep is great. It is a good way of telling them something is wrong with the system. I simply feel it is CRAPPOLA for the folks at DPS to move your application ahead of others because you wrote your email. The reason you folks are writing the emails is in an attempt to get moved ahead of those that have been waiting longer than you. Jabber all you want about how you have some higher desire but everybody knows your motives are purely selfish.

There ya go...so please quit trying to make the issue about writing your state rep. The issue is about getting moved ahead in line. There is a line...by the way. The DPS does make an attempt to work the applications in the order they are received. It does disrupt the order of things, at the DPS, when they have to hunt down and work an application out of order. No worry though. After enough reps ask for special consideration for their own constituents, there will be a CB line also. Eventually it won't help you get ahead of others and most of the letter writing will stop.

[KBCraig]

The problem with the "cutting in line" view is that there is no line. Applications are not ordered and sequenced; they're piled, and workers pull from a pile in no particular order. Just this week, someone reported speaking with Simone, and this was confirmed: the new and temporary workers don't always pull applications in the right order.

[03Lightningrocks]

The problem with the "cutting in line" view is that there is no line. Applications are not ordered and sequenced; they're piled, and workers pull from a pile in no particular order. Just this week, someone reported speaking with Simone, and this was confirmed: the new and temporary workers don't always pull applications in the right order.

That is incorrect. They do work the applications in the order they are received. It may not be an exact science, but the attempt to stay somewhat in order is made. The "pile" is stacked in the order the applications are received.

If there was no attempt to stay in some sort of order...there would be many applications never make it to the top of the "pile". Pulling (special request) applications out of the pile does slow down the process. I got this info first hand. Which is why I am so irritated.

[HerbM]

...The reason you folks are writing the emails is in an attempt to get moved ahead ... there will be a CB line also....

There you go 'mind reading' again -- and in some sense saying those folks (who have claimed they did not do what you say) are not telling the truth.

You don't know what they are thinking. Neither do we. But I for one will take them at their word, and it still won't matter.

If YOUR application is late, you can and should complain. You should ask why. You should do it for everyone and you should do it for yourself.

You already apologized once, but this brings into question your sincerity.

BTW: Just so there is no mistake about MY motives, I have had mine for 10 years, and this time for right at a year (my birthday is mid-July so I got the renewal just about this time last year). My interest is:

a) seeing DPS follow the law

b) not seeing people dumped on for doing the right thing for both themselves and everyone else who is or will be waiting

Apparently there is no line anyway, but that does not change a thing except make the whining about line jumpers even more shrill so you might wish to think about who you call a cry baby.

[seamusTX]

I think this might be a good time to agree that everyone made their point and further comments are


- Jim

[03Lightningrocks]

I think this might be a good time to agree that everyone made their point and further comments are


- Jim

LOL...I agree. This is my last post on this thread.

[03Lightningrocks]

Apparently there is no line anyway, but that does not change a thing except make the whining about line jumpers even more shrill so you might wish to think about who you call a cry baby.

That is incorrect. They do work the applications in the order they are received. It may not be an exact science, but the attempt to stay somewhat in order is made. The "pile" is stacked in the order the applications are received.



OK...now I am done...