DPS says more than 52,000 licenses applied for this year

[winkydo]

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/d ... 1afcb.html

[Tela Mange] said the DPS is paying overtime and has hired an additional 11 temporary employees to help expedite processing. The department says it will be playing a game of catch-up for the foreseeable future.

[pedalman]

Wow, I'm glad that I was lucky enough not to end up waiting 90+ days.

[mr.72]

so what's that? less than 300K apps since 1995 or less than 25K per year and over 2x that many in the first half of this year alone? at this rate we will nearly double the number of CHLs by the end of this year (or by the time this year's applications are processed)...

something is up. i wonder what.

[kd5zex]

WOAI 1200AM had a short story on the increase in applications this morning as well where it was stated the wait was only growing longer according to the DPS. But then of course in the usual uniformed comments that are made on that station, it was implied you had to get a CHL in order to own or purchase a firearm. "With the rise of high profile intruder shootings and the upcoming elections, people just want to be able get their guns."

[boomerang]

52,000 x $140 = $7,280,000

[Keith B]

52,000 x $140 = $7,280,000

Not all of those are $140. Some are for our veterans, and some are for more seasoned individuals and half price or lower.

Also remember, the money goes to the general fund, not directly back into the licensing process. They work off of a budget set late in the previous year just like most other agencies. Getting additional funding out of a yearly budget is EXTREMELY difficult in the state, just like any large corporation.

[Oldgringo]

So? If every legal resident of Texas ultimately gets a governmental approved CHL, whom do we shoot?

Seriously, if everyone has a CHL, how do we discern the BG's from the honorable, level headed and law abiding licensed CHL holders?

Is it time to tighten up the CHL process or is it time to go to Open Carry?

[pedalman]

This afternoon, on KLBJ 590 AM (Austin radio), Suzanna Hupp lambasted the DPS agency leadership (not the troopers on the road) for these delays. As she put it, "What if your driver's license renewal was going to take up to 100 days? You would have to choose to either obey the law, and not drive. Or break the law and continue driving until your renewal was issued. In the case of my CHL renewal, you would make me choose between obeying the law, or continuing to protect myself."

She cited an incident around 2005 when the Legislature told state agencies to cut budgets by at 10%. Well, the DPS bosses said that they could put $800,000 they had left back into the state till. When asked where this extra money came from, DPS leaders sheepishly admitted that the money was profit from CHL application fees. Ms. Hupp was astounded at this admission.

During the radio show, she made no bones about airing her opinion that DPS leaders were manufacturing a crisis out of the CHL application process, so they could garner more money from the Legislature in the next session. Then she urged the listeners to contact their representatives, and tell them that DPS does not need more money; they need to get their act together with what they have now.

Let's face it: DPS leadership has not been batting any home runs lately (CHL delays, the Governor's Mansion, etc). Perhaps it's up the the citizens to clean up the DPS leadership. Or, maybe I'm wrong.

[galvestonredneck]

So? If every legal resident of Texas ultimately gets a governmental approved CHL, whom do we shoot?

Seriously, if everyone has a CHL, how do we discern the BG's from the honorable, level headed and law abiding licensed CHL holders?

Is it time to tighten up the CHL process or is it time to go to Open Carry?

Personally, I wish EVERYONE who can be aproved would be! The fact is, the more CHL holders we have the safer we all are. I would feel GREAT about eating in a restaurant where I knew 90% of the other custumers were CHL holders. Just like the LEO's, if you have a CHL we know you are a good guy (at least you are not a felon).

"Whom do we shoot?" Man you gota be kidding, I hope never to shoot anyone! But the sad fact is there are quite enough BG's that will be packing without a CHL. I doubt if 1/2 of the population of Texas could get a CHL with the current restrictions.

Galveston Redneck

[baseballguy2001]

Am I missing something? (rounding up) about 50K licenses issued through june last year, this year the number of applicants goes up by around 2,200. Question: Is a 5% increase a huge increase when it appears they issue about 1,000 a month? I have a small business, and I would welcome a 5% increase in work, but its not really that much is it?

[seamusTX]

The article didn't use all the relevant numbers. There was a big increase in late 2007 that went through the system like a pig in a python. DPS also had a lot of vacant postions until the legislature looked into the problem and shook things up.

- Jim

[lrb111]

The 52,000 number really tickles me. But iirc the fall season is where the traditional peak is. DPS better brace themselves, if Mr.O is high in the polls in Sept.

[boomerang]

So? If every legal resident of Texas ultimately gets a governmental approved CHL, whom do we shoot?

Same as now. The criminals committing robbery, burglary, rape, etc.

Is it time to tighten up the CHL process or is it time to go to Open Carry?

Maybe they should tighten up on drivers license or voter registration but there doesn't seem to be any reason to tighten the CHL process.

Even with the new applicants, I think less than 2% of Texans have a CHL. The stats I saw say it's around 4% in in Oregon and over 6% in Pennsylvania.

[mr.72]

It appears I misinterpreted the stats... I thought it was 52,000 NEW applications this year but it is 52,000 new applications and renewals.

Only a 5% increase. A 5% increase in work causes a 100% increase in the time it takes to do said work?

I understand that it's a FIFO-like system, each month the applications that didn't get processed on time add to the backlog but 5% should be pretty easy to absorb. I mean, if it really is just about time, then if every full-time employee works an extra 2 hours a week that absorbs the whole problem... or likewise hiring one additional employee for every 20 full-timers should fix it. They said they hired 11 temps and approved overtime for others? How many people work in this dept?

There is something fishy about this whole situation.