Head of Texas CHL speaks yesterday at TCHA convention

[johncanfield]

We recently joined the Texas Concealed Handgun Association and are attending their annual conference held in Kerrville. The speakers and seminars were extremely interesting and it was really interesting to hear Sherry (Sherri?) -- I didn't get her last name -- manager of the CHL folks in Austin speak yesterday.

Some tidbits:

As of yesterday there were 524,000 active CHL licenses and about 3,000 instructors
The instructor classes are popular and full. More women becoming instructors
A new (improved?) website is being rolled out in the couple of months
There will be a page specifically directed to instructors
The CHL written test is being completely revised (they are [strike: seeking] [insert: will look at] comments and suggestions)

I asked about the big holdup with fingerprints last and she says the problems (it was an IT issue) should be resolved now but there could still be a hiccup here and there with fingerprints. Average time now from application to mailed license is 26 to 35 days (not exact about the upper limit, but it is in the 30s)

She talked a bit about instructor fraud and there are unfortunately some instances of instructors not complying with requirements. She asked that her department be contacted if you see/hear anything that might indicate the regulations aren't being followed - they will investigate.

Edit: clarify the comments about the CHL test being rewritten

[WildBill]

Thanks for your report John.

We recently joined the Texas Concealed Handgun Association and are attending their annual conference held in Kerrville. The speakers and seminars were extremely interesting and it was really interesting to hear Sherry (Sherri?) -- I didn't get her last name -- manager of the CHL folks in Austin speak yesterday.

Probably Sherrie Zgabay. That's why you didn't get her last name.

... it was an IT issue ...

Where have I heard this before?

[johncanfield]

Thanks for your report John.

You're welcome Bill!

... it was an IT issue ...

Where have I heard this before?

Roger that! It took about four months for my wife's second set of fingerprints to finally get to the DPS side of the 'wall.'

Sherrie did not spend any time explaining during her Q&A exactly what the fingerprint problem was, as a retired IT guy I wanted to know. She stuck around for the banquet that evening, I should have corralled her and asked. My wife happened to be in the ladies' room with Sherrie and mentioned the big fiasco with her prints - she said "that happens..."

[alvins]

she probably didnt know anything about this "IT" problem. most people either blame it on IT or the computer not realizing a person had to program it.

Like the people where I work they want to change their website from something that looks like it was done it frontpage from the early 90's to something cool. They think this can be done in about 5 minutes and have no clue to what it even takes.

[MasterOfNone]

The CHL written test is being completely revised (they are seeking comments and suggestions)

[rhetorical]
From whom? They have contact information for every instructor, but I haven't been asked. Or are they just seeking input from those that can attend a conference?
[/rhetorical]

[johncanfield]

The CHL written test is being completely revised (they are seeking comments and suggestions)

[rhetorical]
From whom? They have contact information for every instructor, but I haven't been asked. Or are they just seeking input from those that can attend a conference?
[/rhetorical]

Good grief - you sir have me in a conundrum. I'm not sure if I can respond to a rhetorical question

As I remember the comment by Sherrie, I will parse what I think the intent was. I believe since there were many instructors that happened to hear her statement about the test being rewritten, she added almost as a PS that "if you have suggestions, we will be glad to listen, but I can't promise that we will use your suggestion..." (my paraphrase.) It did not sound like they will solicit suggestions. If they received hundreds of recommendations about test questions, think of the effort involved to evaluate every suggestion. It's easier to keep things in-house.

She played it pretty close to the hip and was not revealing any state secrets or providing any unique insight into her department (at least in front of the audience), still it was interesting to put a face to the CHL department. She was well spoken and seemed to be very tuned in to the environment and very supportive of CHLs in general. I liked her .

[wgoforth]

We recently joined the Texas Concealed Handgun Association and are attending their annual conference held in Kerrville. The speakers and seminars were extremely interesting and it was really interesting to hear Sherry (Sherri?) -- I didn't get her last name -- manager of the CHL folks in Austin speak yesterday.

Some tidbits:

As of yesterday there were 524,000 active CHL licenses and about 3,000 instructors
The instructor classes are popular and full. More women becoming instructors
A new (improved?) website is being rolled out in the couple of months
There will be a page specifically directed to instructors
The CHL written test is being completely revised (they are [strike: seeking] [insert: will look at] comments and suggestions)

I asked about the big holdup with fingerprints last and she says the problems (it was an IT issue) should be resolved now but there could still be a hiccup here and there with fingerprints. Average time now from application to mailed license is 26 to 35 days (not exact about the upper limit, but it is in the 30s)

She talked a bit about instructor fraud and there are unfortunately some instances of instructors not complying with requirements. She asked that her department be contacted if you see/hear anything that might indicate the regulations aren't being followed - they will investigate.

Edit: clarify the comments about the CHL test being rewritten

On the test...what they are working toward is a database of 300 questions that the test randomly picks which 50.

[tbrown]

On the test...what they are working toward is a database of 300 questions that the test randomly picks which 50.

That would be great for an online test for students and instructors alike. Even better if they increase the pool size and make the question pool available to everyone, like for HAM tests.

[MasterOfNone]

On the test...what they are working toward is a database of 300 questions that the test randomly picks which 50.

That would be great for an online test for students and instructors alike. Even better if they increase the pool size and make the question pool available to everyone, like for HAM tests.

I really hope they do not make it an online test. Some of the locations we train don't have Internet access. And if they have the applicants take the test at home after class, then you can't explain their errors to them.

[KC5AV]

On the test...what they are working toward is a database of 300 questions that the test randomly picks which 50.

That would be great for an online test for students and instructors alike. Even better if they increase the pool size and make the question pool available to everyone, like for HAM tests.

I really hope they do not make it an online test. Some of the locations we train don't have Internet access. And if they have the applicants take the test at home after class, then you can't explain their errors to them.

It likely wouldn't be an online test. I'm a ham radio volunteer examiner, and there is a program that is downloaded which generates tests using a random sampling of the question pool. I just print out as many tests as I need, and each one comes with a serial number and an answer key.

I imagine it would be a simple matter of making something like that for the CHL written exam.

[bayouhazard]

Instructors can take the test online for renewals. I think DPS should allow license renewals to take the same test online and if we pass at instructor level then we can renew without a class.

[Crossfire]

On the test...what they are working toward is a database of 300 questions that the test randomly picks which 50.

That would be great for an online test for students and instructors alike. Even better if they increase the pool size and make the question pool available to everyone, like for HAM tests.

I really hope they do not make it an online test. Some of the locations we train don't have Internet access. And if they have the applicants take the test at home after class, then you can't explain their errors to them.

It likely wouldn't be an online test. I'm a ham radio volunteer examiner, and there is a program that is downloaded which generates tests using a random sampling of the question pool. I just print out as many tests as I need, and each one comes with a serial number and an answer key.

I imagine it would be a simple matter of making something like that for the CHL written exam.

That would be just great. Printing 30 different tests for every class. Grading 30 different tests at the end of the day. Explaining the answers to 30 different sets of questions.

DPS just needs to update the test to 50 questions that actually make sense, and are important topics for the students to know. CHL students dont need to know that they qualify on a B27 target in one of four colors, as well as some other entirely irrelevant questions on the current test. They DO need to know, and be tested on, the places they cannot carry, when it is appropriate to use force or deadly force, and where to reference that information. I.E. - this is in Chapter 46, this is in Chapter 9, etc.

I am willing to bet money that, if they solicited instructors, we could submit some great questions, and they could make an excellent test out of the top 50.

[MasterOfNone]

On the test...what they are working toward is a database of 300 questions that the test randomly picks which 50.

That would be great for an online test for students and instructors alike. Even better if they increase the pool size and make the question pool available to everyone, like for HAM tests.

I really hope they do not make it an online test. Some of the locations we train don't have Internet access. And if they have the applicants take the test at home after class, then you can't explain their errors to them.

It likely wouldn't be an online test. I'm a ham radio volunteer examiner, and there is a program that is downloaded which generates tests using a random sampling of the question pool. I just print out as many tests as I need, and each one comes with a serial number and an answer key.

I imagine it would be a simple matter of making something like that for the CHL written exam.

That would be just great. Printing 30 different tests for every class. Grading 30 different tests at the end of the day. Explaining the answers to 30 different sets of questions.

DPS just needs to update the test to 50 questions that actually make sense, and are important topics for the students to know. CHL students dont need to know that they qualify on a B27 target in one of four colors, as well as some other entirely irrelevant questions on the current test. They DO need to know, and be tested on, the places they cannot carry, when it is appropriate to use force or deadly force, and where to reference that information. I.E. - this is in Chapter 46, this is in Chapter 9, etc.

I am willing to bet money that, if they solicited instructors, we could submit some great questions, and they could make an excellent test out of the top 50.

Hopefully, having the separate instructor exam will result in the elimination of some of the pointless questions (like the target). But they still need to go further and purge some of the really dumb ones.

[wgoforth]

On the test...what they are working toward is a database of 300 questions that the test randomly picks which 50.

That would be great for an online test for students and instructors alike. Even better if they increase the pool size and make the question pool available to everyone, like for HAM tests.

I really hope they do not make it an online test. Some of the locations we train don't have Internet access. And if they have the applicants take the test at home after class, then you can't explain their errors to them.

It likely wouldn't be an online test. I'm a ham radio volunteer examiner, and there is a program that is downloaded which generates tests using a random sampling of the question pool. I just print out as many tests as I need, and each one comes with a serial number and an answer key.

I imagine it would be a simple matter of making something like that for the CHL written exam.

That would be just great. Printing 30 different tests for every class. Grading 30 different tests at the end of the day. Explaining the answers to 30 different sets of questions.

DPS just needs to update the test to 50 questions that actually make sense, and are important topics for the students to know. CHL students dont need to know that they qualify on a B27 target in one of four colors, as well as some other entirely irrelevant questions on the current test. They DO need to know, and be tested on, the places they cannot carry, when it is appropriate to use force or deadly force, and where to reference that information. I.E. - this is in Chapter 46, this is in Chapter 9, etc.

I am willing to bet money that, if they solicited instructors, we could submit some great questions, and they could make an excellent test out of the top 50.

Or having 3 different questionsabout MPA when they are getting a CHL...

[KC5AV]

On the test...what they are working toward is a database of 300 questions that the test randomly picks which 50.

That would be great for an online test for students and instructors alike. Even better if they increase the pool size and make the question pool available to everyone, like for HAM tests.

I really hope they do not make it an online test. Some of the locations we train don't have Internet access. And if they have the applicants take the test at home after class, then you can't explain their errors to them.

It likely wouldn't be an online test. I'm a ham radio volunteer examiner, and there is a program that is downloaded which generates tests using a random sampling of the question pool. I just print out as many tests as I need, and each one comes with a serial number and an answer key.

I imagine it would be a simple matter of making something like that for the CHL written exam.

That would be just great. Printing 30 different tests for every class. Grading 30 different tests at the end of the day. Explaining the answers to 30 different sets of questions.

DPS just needs to update the test to 50 questions that actually make sense, and are important topics for the students to know. CHL students dont need to know that they qualify on a B27 target in one of four colors, as well as some other entirely irrelevant questions on the current test. They DO need to know, and be tested on, the places they cannot carry, when it is appropriate to use force or deadly force, and where to reference that information. I.E. - this is in Chapter 46, this is in Chapter 9, etc.

I am willing to bet money that, if they solicited instructors, we could submit some great questions, and they could make an excellent test out of the top 50.

Oh, I completely agree. I wasn't saying it was necessarily a good idea, but I've been looking for a used scan-tron reader for amateur radio exams. I bet it would work just as well for when I give CHL exams.