Houston Chronicle article on CHL delays

[Skiprr]

The reporter, Janet Elliott, who wrote the article in May about the DPS backlog, did sort of a follow-up piece yesterday that you may find interesting. Here's an excerpt:

July 12, 2008, 9:57PM
Learning to conceal and carry
Reporter takes up offer to attend licensing course

By JANET ELLIOTT

BLANCO — For wannabe pistol packers, we were a pretty mellow bunch.

A middle-aged schoolteacher and her husband; the owner of an excavating company; two college buddies; a couple who both served in the Air Force and now work for the state; a retired correctional officer who helped set up the prison museum in Huntsville and his grown son; a 23-year-old volunteer paramedic and his parents.

And me, a newspaper reporter who has covered enough gun-induced mayhem in three decades to have serious concerns about the prominence of the weapons in American life.

Mike Cox, a certified concealed handgun license instructor from Driftwood, had invited me to attend one of his classes after reading my coverage of the increased demand for the licenses.

"You'll be surprised at the emphasis on non-violent conflict resolution," he promised... [Description of the classroom instruction followed.]

Having the option

After taking a written test, we drove to a nearby ranch and set up targets. We would have to hit the figure of a man's torso with 50 rounds of ammunition fired from distances ranging from three to 15 feet.

My hands gripped the semiautomatic 9mm pistol and trembled as I lined up the sights and waited for the signal to begin firing. The gun kicked, but I aimed again and kept firing.

However, my borrowed weapon soon jammed, and I wondered what would happen if I was really trying to defend myself.

Art and Lisa Railsback, the military veterans, said later that they would like to see the training increased so attendees can be taught more about the weapons.

The Kyle couple don't hunt or shoot guns often. But they want the option to carry concealed weapons on occasion for their personal safety.

Although I don't plan to apply for a license, I'm glad that nearly 300,000 Texans have cared enough to get theirs. The people in the course were not the gun carriers we fear.

[bryang]

The reporter, Janet Elliott, who wrote the article in May about the DPS backlog, did sort of a follow-up piece yesterday that you may find interesting. Here's an excerpt:

Although I don't plan to apply for a license, I'm glad that nearly 300,000 Texans have cared enough to get theirs. The people in the course were not the gun carriers we fear.

Hallelujah...finally someone realizes that we are not the bad guy!!! I wish more antis would go to a class and find out for themselves what is going on.

[seamusTX]

We would have to hit the figure of a man's torso with 50 rounds of ammunition fired from distances ranging from three to 15 feet.

Really long feet.

- Jim

[ELB]

The article in the original post had this line in it:

The state is taking a month longer than the 60 days allowed by law to process original applications and 80 days longer on renewals, which are supposed to be handled within 45 days.

The original post is dated 8 May 08, which by coincidence was the first day I could apply for a renewal of my CHL (One can apply for renewal 180 days in advance). Because I had earlier read on this forum about the long wait times, I was prepped to go: I had already completed my renewal course and had my TR-100, fingerprints, photo and affidavits. I still had my PIN from the last renewal, so on 8 May I jumped on line and applied and had the following timeline:

Class 3 May 08

Online Application 8 May 08 (first day eligible to start)

Received Renewal Reminder Letter 9 May 08

Received Application Package 17 May 08

Mailed Application 20 May 08

USPS confirmation of delivery: 21 May 08, 0749

Received 25 Jun 08 (DPS postmark 23 Jun 08)

So 35 days from arrival at DPS to arrival in my mailbox (actually might have been 34 -- not sure I checked mail the day before). Considerably better than 125 days. I even got the veteran's discount, and thanks to this website I knew to put my DD214 in the package. There was NOTHING on the DPS website or in the renewal letter or package they sent to me that indicated that any documents were required for the veteran's discount.

I am going to push my wife to do the same thing when her renewal period comes up this fall.