Texas Processing Lunacy

[frjeff]

From what I am seeing in the time-lines for many members, one of the huge lags, it seems, is the length of time from when DPS receives the application packet until they actually begin processing.

It looks like this is about an average of 5-6 weeks before even beginning to look at the application?? That's unacceptable!

What is incredibly aggravating to me is the difference state to state. My son in MI took his class (shoot anything/carry anything),finger printed, etc. on the afternoon of May 21. He stands before the county Gun Board on June 17, at 9:15am (for standard questioning on the "no carry zones" and "why" you want your CPL).

He will be given his laminated CPL at that time.

That that means he'll be licensed in less than 27 days from submitting prints and taking the class. All done at the County level. The Texas wait and processing is a crock. Both are "shall issue" states.

How's that cock your hammer?

[kd5zex]

Well, for one I shouldn't have to give anyone a reason why I want / need a CHL. Furthermore, I have lived in this area my entire life and despite my best efforts there are folks who don't like me, should they hold a position on the "gun board" I could probably kiss my chances of passing the review goodbye. I think the level of insulation you get by having your application processed by an office worker in Austin is a good thing as far as objectivity goes.

I know it is no fun waiting but it's really not that bad (easy for me to say), I forget my exact dates but I was around 140 days.

[frjeff]

Well, for one I shouldn't have to give anyone a reason why I want / need a CHL. Furthermore, I have lived in this area my entire life and despite my best efforts there are folks who don't like me, should they hold a position on the "gun board" I could probably kiss my chances of passing the review goodbye. I think the level of insulation you get by having your application processed by an office worker in Austin is a good thing as far as objectivity goes.

I know it is no fun waiting but it's really not that bad (easy for me to say), I forget my exact dates but I was around 140 days.

Excellent points, kd5zex. I had not thought about the points you raise.

I can understand the "Gun Board" potential problem in a non-shall issue state (campaign contributions, favors, etc.) but had not believed that those issues could arise in a shall issue state. I am probably wrong knowing the nature of people with power.

I guess I'll just have to be patient and understand that the process is worth the wait.......

[Shorts]

I'd like to know of there's anything that can be done to fix the process. There are some that breeze right through while others are long suffering waiting for any sign of life from Austin.

We all need to be served in a timely manner. They take our money up front.

[dicion]

Something HAS been done, this legislative session:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 15#p287661" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The legislature approved law that will allow additional persons to do background checks, to hopefully speed up the process.

Will that fix the Whole system? No, but it's something

[Shorts]

Something HAS been done, this legislative session:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 15#p287661" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The legislature approved law that will allow additional persons to do background checks, to hopefully speed up the process.

Will that fix the Whole system? No, but it's something

We need a fix, not a facade

[Charles L. Cotton]

Something HAS been done, this legislative session:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 15#p287661" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The legislature approved law that will allow additional persons to do background checks, to hopefully speed up the process.

Will that fix the Whole system? No, but it's something

We need a fix, not a facade

What facade? Why do you not think this will help? What changes would you suggest?

Chas.

[tesla]

What facade? Why do you not think this will help? What changes would you suggest?

Chas.

I sure hope it will help. It does appear that the background checks are the worst bottleneck, so it is targeting an important step in the process. I'm now up to 123 days of waiting, with almost 100 of those days taken up in waiting for background checks (according to the DPS people with whom I have spoken.)

It seems that certain counties (such as Harris) are especially egregious. If their problem is truly a problem of manpower, then this should provide additional manpower and thus speed processing. If their problem is philosophical, however, then there is nothing to force them to avail themselves of this new source of manpower and it is less likely to make a difference.

On the whole, however, it certainly won't hurt!

[frjeff]

Something HAS been done, this legislative session:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 15#p287661" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The legislature approved law that will allow additional persons to do background checks, to hopefully speed up the process.

Will that fix the Whole system? No, but it's something

We need a fix, not a facade

What facade? Why do you not think this will help? What changes would you suggest?

Chas.

Curious to me that the background check to purchase a handgun is over in three minutes.

A background check here for CHL can take over 140 days?

Do states like Michigan (issuing in less then 30 days) not do a background check? But, we have MI reciprocity??

I still claim it is lunacy, extreme inefficiency, too little staffing, a "who cares" attitude or sloppy procedure. Or, all of the above!

Would a private enterprise survive if it took them four+ months to deliver what you paid for up front?? NO!

The system is way broken and small psuedo-fixes like you cite will not fix the problem. Just watch and see.

[Shorts]

Something HAS been done, this legislative session:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 15#p287661" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The legislature approved law that will allow additional persons to do background checks, to hopefully speed up the process.

Will that fix the Whole system? No, but it's something

We need a fix, not a facade

What facade? Why do you not think this will help? What changes would you suggest?

Chas.

Charles I would suggest a more lenient process.

My fantasy is no CHL needed to carry. The reasonable person in me, recognizing that there aren't fans of firearms in public (or firearms at all), knows all Texans wouldn't go for my fantasy. So to appease the skeptics there must be some kind of litmus test. While these skeptics would prefer a more stringent test, pro carry folks would prefer less. (Insert "that person couldn't hit the side of a barn, not everyone should have a gun" perspective from both sides).

Having received a carry permit from another state with a more hassle-free process, I'm inclined to say use the same process. Go to the Sheriff's Office and fill out a carry permit application. Pay $60, get printed on site by an on-duty officer and wait a maximum of 30 days.

With that said, Texas does recognize this state's permit because it fulfills 411.173(b) which is the NCIC check. This agreement however is only a unilateral agreement. This state does not recognize Texas CHL.


Why does Texas trust me with another's permit but it won't trust me with it's own? I suppose that is the rub and frustration from my perspective.

I also see that Texas CHL is recognized by many more states compared to the other. Could the class & test requirement add credibility to the permit holder? Sure it could. Now I haven't read all the other states' site and their reasons why a Texas CHL fulfills their requirements for reciprocity. It would be interesting to see why. What is the most common requirement?

[Purplehood]

Shorts,

I would have to agree with other posters regarding the "visit your local sheriff" and get your permit fast scenario. We read every day where DA's and local Sheriffs decide to veto applications for various reasons or simply fail to process them.

Though our process can and is especially tedious at times, it more or less gives a blanket okay to anyone that fulfills the requirements for a permit with little to no leeway for declining.

Letting it be done at the local level can bring in to play the possibility of personality conflicts, personal feelings and simple inertia from allowing one to get issued a permit if you are qualified.

Call me paranoid, but I tend to steer clear of relying on the good will of some public appointees and elected officials.

[Shorts]

Shorts,

I would have to agree with other posters regarding the "visit your local sheriff" and get your permit fast scenario. We read every day where DA's and local Sheriffs decide to veto applications for various reasons or simply fail to process them.

Though our process can and is especially tedious at times, it more or less gives a blanket okay to anyone that fulfills the requirements for a permit with little to no leeway for declining.

Letting it be done at the local level can bring in to play the possibility of personality conflicts, personal feelings and simple inertia from allowing one to get issued a permit if you are qualified.

Call me paranoid, but I tend to steer clear of relying on the good will of some public appointees and elected officials.

Very good point. It has entered my mind as a concern for having a local issuing authority.

So how do you keep state authority but get the same speed and efficiency as a local authority? What is it in the state system that drastically slows the process? I'm still waiting for my TX CHL but have already long been approved in another state. Where is the continuity of the time line? Am I wrongly expecting there to be any? Comparatively, why can a local authority work faster than a state system? (Rhetorical question. I realize there may be very few who have first hand knowledge of state and local government from several states who can accurately answer that question). It may be as simple as number of apps to process.

Being married to a Navy man and knowing the seriousness and length of a background check for a security clearance, I think I'd take one of those if it got me through faster

[frjeff]

Shorts,

I would have to agree with other posters regarding the "visit your local sheriff" and get your permit fast scenario. We read every day where DA's and local Sheriffs decide to veto applications for various reasons or simply fail to process them.

Though our process can and is especially tedious at times, it more or less gives a blanket okay to anyone that fulfills the requirements for a permit with little to no leeway for declining.

Letting it be done at the local level can bring in to play the possibility of personality conflicts, personal feelings and simple inertia from allowing one to get issued a permit if you are qualified.

Call me paranoid, but I tend to steer clear of relying on the good will of some public appointees and elected officials.

Very good point. It has entered my mind as a concern for having a local issuing authority.

So how do you keep state authority but get the same speed and efficiency as a local authority? What is it in the state system that drastically slows the process? I'm still waiting for my TX CHL but have already long been approved in another state. Where is the continuity of the time line? Am I wrongly expecting there to be any? Comparatively, why can a local authority work faster than a state system? (Rhetorical question. I realize there may be very few who have first hand knowledge of state and local government from several states who can accurately answer that question).

shorts and purplehood

My point exactly!

There is no reason except for what I cite in my most recent post: inefficiency, etc.

There simply is NO excuse for the delays as they are currently!

The reason it is not fixed is because no body cares and there is no oversight. Your and my CHL are not the first priority on the minds of any state bureaucrat. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. We have no squeak!!

[Shorts]

Yup, no squeak. And those that were squeaking before getting CHL stop squeaking after receiving CHL

[Charles L. Cotton]

Something HAS been done, this legislative session:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 15#p287661" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The legislature approved law that will allow additional persons to do background checks, to hopefully speed up the process.

Will that fix the Whole system? No, but it's something

We need a fix, not a facade

What facade? Why do you not think this will help? What changes would you suggest?

Chas.

The system is way broken and small psuedo-fixes like you cite will not fix the problem. Just watch and see.

I never said it would fix the entire problem. The bill I wrote would have drastically changed and streamlined the procedure, but it didn't happen. The several changes we added to the DPS Sunset bill certainly will help, but it will not cure all delays. If you have a better idea that you can get passed in Austin, please let me know. After working our tails off on this single issue since last summer getting the most we could get, I have to admit I'm growing more than a little tired of the "nothing is going to help" attitude.

Chas.