Why it's taking so long?

[oohrah]

Good news on license applications:

http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/ ... nses.html/

[Redneck_Buddha]

My wife is volunteering for an organization that requires the exact background check that a CHL does. They've been waiting for her results since early January.

[Pawpaw]

...And from DPS itself: http://www.dps.texas.gov/rsd/chl/applicantreminder.htm

[WildBill]

My theory for the spike is the need for a CHL in order to OC

Interesting theory. I hadn't really considered that as a reason.

[Jago668]

My theory for the spike is the need for a CHL in order to OC

Interesting theory. I hadn't really considered that as a reason.

It may not specifically be people wanting to OC. Probably some people that didn't realize you could legally carry until the OC stuff hit the news.

[stash]

Maybe I don't get out enough but I have yet to see one person doing the OC thing.

[RHenriksen]

My theory for the spike is the need for a CHL in order to OC

Interesting theory. I hadn't really considered that as a reason.

It may not specifically be people wanting to OC. Probably some people that didn't realize you could legally carry until the OC stuff hit the news.

This is my hypothesis as well. Would be funny that all the hoplophobic media coverage leads to a significant increase in armed Texans.

[mojo84]

My theory for the spike is the need for a CHL in order to OC

I thought of that also, but, settled on it being a positive result of the publicity from the open carry discussions. I think they brought carry to the front of many people's minds and considering the recent crime publicity and political environment, they decided to get their license .

I doubt very many of the new licensees will actually open carry. I still have only seen one open carrier and I've only openly carried when pumping gas because I didn't want to put on my cover garment just to pump the gas. I just don't see open carry ever becoming common.

[TangoX-ray]

I doubt many will either, but to my mind it might have been an additional 'spur' to action. Whatever the reason, we need to have a party once we hit 1 million LTC holders

I think we are well on our way to 2 million now. There were 825K in 2014.

[Papa_Tiger]

I doubt many will either, but to my mind it might have been an additional 'spur' to action. Whatever the reason, we need to have a party once we hit 1 million LTC holders

I think we are well on our way to 2 million now. There were 825K in 2014.

Possibly, but keep in mind that the number of applications that DPS is working through also includes renewals. At the end of 2015 there were 937,419 active Texas CHLs and there were 217,588 issued between January 1-December 31, 2015. So even though there have been 136,000 applications submitted in the first 3 months, some number of them will be renewals.

[Gixxer2k4]

I think it may have to do with the shorter class times, thats what really lit the fire for myself.

[LabRat]

I could be completely off-base, of course - but speaking as a foreigner, it's my theory that if you give a Texan an opportunity to legally show off his/her pistols, they'll do whatever it takes...

On an anecdotal basis I would agree with you, however I've yet to see an open carrier since January 1st. And I've been looking....
None to be found. Hen's teeth are more readily available.

While this need to show may drive some of the volume, I think it another reason. Rebellion against the Bloomberg, Demanding Whiny Moms and the realization that the government we have now is pretty much lawless. Laws are broken with no justice. And even when justice is demanded by the courts, the government entities (federal, state and local) just ignore the edicts and continue on with business-as-usual.

A sad state of affairs that folks are now beginning to wake up to.

LabRat