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Texas Vets

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:47 pm
by TxD
I don't think this has been posted regarding CHL Vet fees.
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80 ... 00233I.HTM

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:07 pm
by Zero_G
That's excellent! I'm assuming this is a draft that hasn't been approved yet?

I got my CHL at the reduced military rate, though they had some difficulty figuring out what paperwork I needed to turn in. One big sticking point was orders proving I was on active duty. Since I've been active duty since 1995, and don't have any such orders, I used my PCS orders. It seemed like the whole system was more geared towards the reserves than active duty. It worked though.

Keith
USAF

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:10 pm
by cyphur
Sweet, but I'm not excited about sending my DD-214 to the State.

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:16 pm
by stevie_d_64
It would have been nice to have this already enacted...

I'm renewing tomorrow...

And I'd rather pay "ElGato" a premium price for his instruction, and pay a reduced or have waived my fee to the state...

I've been looking forward to this bill making progress, but haven't seen any movement lately in the legislature or any committee reviewing this one...

They tried this one before last session in 2005, and it was pretty much squashed after they found out the demographics would have put a huge drop in revenue to the state if they waived the CHL fee for veterans...

Now I will say this...I am in total agreement that if they were to find a compramise and have the waiver for only "disabled" vets this go around...I would jump on that like a bun-yea rabbit...Let that bill become the stepping stone for the rest of us somewhere down the road when the impact (revenue drop) can be better evaluated...

Somehow I am of the opinion that this again is going to be too much for the powers at be, to bear...Nobody in Austin likes a revenue drop...

The irony of all of this is rather obvious from a principled vantage point...

And if you kinda sit back and think about who a large block off the Texas CHL community are...You'd see why this is one of those hard acts to follow...Its going to be tough to convince the right amount of legislators to sign off on this...You'd get quite a few, but probably not enough to get something like this passed I'm afraid...

But then again if you hit it hard enough, stranger things have happened...

If I were King for a day, all of this would be a moot point though...

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:19 pm
by stevie_d_64
cyphur wrote:Sweet, but I'm not excited about sending my DD-214 to the State.
What??? Highly classified stuff there???

You could tell me but then you'd have to kill me???

I bet my classified stuff is more classified that yers! :lol:

I can't even hint I know anything...Wait...Since when did I know anything...Ahhhh, fergit it...

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:50 pm
by 135boomer
Being a retired AF geezer, I'm all for this! I'll be happy to send a copy of my 214. They can get that info if they want it anyway.

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:53 pm
by ScubaSigGuy
cyphur wrote:Sweet, but I'm not excited about sending my DD-214 to the State.

You mean that you didn't file one with City Hall like you were instructed to do at your debriefing :?:

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:05 pm
by TX Rancher
ScubaSigGuy wrote:
cyphur wrote:Sweet, but I'm not excited about sending my DD-214 to the State.

You mean that you didn't file one with City Hall like you were instructed to do at your debriefing :?:
Did they really instruct you to file your DD-214 with City Hall? I don't remember being told that in 78???? What was the reason?

Just curious since I never filed mine (didn't know I was supposed to)...

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:25 pm
by srothstein
When I got out (the first time) in 78, I was told to file a copy with the vital records part of the county courthouse. That way there would be a legally verified copy available in case something ever happened to mine. Much quicker than going through St. Louis, especially back then.

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:30 pm
by ScubaSigGuy
TX Rancher wrote:
ScubaSigGuy wrote:
cyphur wrote:Sweet, but I'm not excited about sending my DD-214 to the State.

You mean that you didn't file one with City Hall like you were instructed to do at your debriefing :?:
Did they really instruct you to file your DD-214 with City Hall? I don't remember being told that in 78???? What was the reason?

Just curious since I never filed mine (didn't know I was supposed to)...
TX,

I was joking with Cyphur because of his aversion to sharing that info. But yes, when I out-processed they told us that it was requirement to file a DD214 with the city that we lived in. They gave us enough copies that's for sure. They mentioned that it was in case they needed to mobilize people in an emergency, but I don't see that as a realistic reason.

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:43 pm
by Right2Carry
I will be happy if they just reduce the fee by 50% which I think is more likely to happen.

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:50 pm
by KBCraig
srothstein wrote:When I got out (the first time) in 78, I was told to file a copy with the vital records part of the county courthouse.
Since my first marriage took place in Denmark (while I was stationed in Germany), when I ETS'd we recorded the marriage license at the county courthouse. I never would have thought of that, but her father was the county assessor, so he suggested it.

Not that I'm overly fond of recording anything with the government. But when it comes to difficult-to-retrieve foreign records, it's not a bad idea. I can't image much luck addressing a request to "Marriage license lady, Esbjerg, Denmark". :grin:

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:12 am
by TX Rancher
srothstein & ScubaSigGuy:

Thanks for the response. Guess I should have been paying more attention during the seperation process :oops:

Having it on file so there's an "official" copy somewhere that's easy to retrieve makes sense, but in case they need to mobilize people sounds a little off. I don't doubt you were told that ScubaSigGuy, but like you I question it. I doubt any official in any town hit by Katrina ever thought to check the records for vets, and I bet the same is true for Florida/Andrew or Ca/earthquakes.

As to vets getting a break on the cost of a CHL, I'm all for it. I know a lot of guys who retired and are living on a limited income. Giving them a break due to their service to the country is a good thing. As it would be for any vet who has limited funds.

In my particular case, the cost of the CHL is not that big a burden and I am willing to pay it if it helps keep the system afloat.

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:09 am
by KRM45
TX Rancher wrote: As to vets getting a break on the cost of a CHL, I'm all for it. I know a lot of guys who retired and are living on a limited income. Giving them a break due to their service to the country is a good thing. As it would be for any vet who has limited funds.

In my particular case, the cost of the CHL is not that big a burden and I am willing to pay it if it helps keep the system afloat.
I'm in complete agreement with this post!

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:53 am
by Liberty
TX Rancher wrote: As to vets getting a break on the cost of a CHL, I'm all for it. I know a lot of guys who retired and are living on a limited income. Giving them a break due to their service to the country is a good thing. As it would be for any vet who has limited funds.

In my particular case, the cost of the CHL is not that big a burden and I am willing to pay it if it helps keep the system afloat.
I hate sounding stingy, and I have no problem with discounted or free for disabled vets. Those of us who served during the lat 60's and early 70's were stereotyped to be mentally incompetent and psychological traumatised wrecks. We were supposedly serving in the military because we weren't smart enough to avoid the draft.

Statistics have borne out that Veterans do pretty good when we get out. That we typically do a little bit better in life financially after we get out than our peer who did not serve. There isn't a provable need. I don't like the idea being put out that us Vets 'need' any extra help even if it isn't the intention of the bill.

Its my belief that money would be better spent on memorials for for the fallen. The best way to pay back Veterans is to remember the sacrifices

I think it might be a good idea to allow for a discount for disabled vets, or for those currently serving. I would much rather see our Legislators focus on protecting college students from violent crime by allowing them to conceal carry.