Posted on 05/08/2008 5:14:46 AM PDT by FooBarBaz
AUSTIN — Demand for concealed handgun licenses has risen nearly 40 percent in Texas in a year, an increase being attributed to many factors, even presidential politics.
Though the exact cause may be unclear, what's certain is that the spike in applications has caught the Department of Public Safety unprepared.
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.
"We're trying really hard, but there have been delays because of the tremendous increase in applications," said Tela Mange, a DPS spokeswoman.
She said the department is paying overtime and hiring temporary workers to reduce the backlog. Mange said she doesn't know why applications last month were 39 percent higher than they were in April 2007.
But Ross Bransford, who trains 1,000 Texans a year to qualify for a concealed handgun license, said he believes the looming 2008 election is a big factor.
"People are not sure what's going to happen after the election," said Bransford, who owns Austin-based CHL-Texas.com. "Both Democratic candidates are anti-gun in one fashion or another."
He said Sen. Barack Obama, who is leading the race for the nomination, is a "friend of (Democratic Senator) Ted Kennedy, and that scares everybody to death."
Other instructors mentioned an increased interest from young adults after last year's Virginia Tech massacre and recent changes in Texas law about carrying concealed weapons.
In 2007, lawmakers granted privacy to the 258,000 license holders by closing records that had been public since the concealed handgun law passed in 1995. They also extended the so-called "castle doctrine" defense to persons who use a gun to protect their vehicles, in addition to their homes.
45 minutes on hold
Alice Tripp, legislative director for the Texas State Rifle Association, the state affiliate of the National Rifle Association, said she hears daily from frustrated members about the delay in getting licenses.
She said some have been put on hold for 45 minutes when they called DPS to inquire about their licenses.
"They are really quite alarmed and annoyed," Tripp said. "They sat on hold, and had gotten no answers."
Last month, she took her group's concerns to a meeting with DPS officials, Gov. Rick Perry's legislative director Ken Armbrister and House Law Enforcement Chairman Joe Driver.
Driver, R-Garland, is demanding weekly reports from DPS on license applications. During the week that ended Friday, DPS said it processed 1,043 original and renewal applications but received 1,871 requests.
"I was very surprised at how far behind they are," Tripp said.
Renewal every 5 years
She said she can't understand why it is taking so long for renewals, because people with handgun licenses are continually checked against criminal databases and other records. Licenses must be renewed every five years.
"If you find yourself subject to a protective order, someone will knock on your door and take your license," she said.
Mange urged license applicants to use the DPS Web site to enter basic information required on the permit. Tripp said her members who have used the Web site tell her it does not speed the process.
Tripp said there is no grace period for expired handgun licenses.
Everyone seeking a license, and certain renewals, must take classes that cover safety, state law and conflict resolution. They must submit fingerprints, which DPS sends to the FBI for a background check, and a photo. They must carry their license when they carry a concealed handgun. There are some restrictions as to where concealed handguns can be carried in Texas.
Applicant's suspicions
Ron Freeman, a CPA who lives in Wimberley, said he was asked twice to redo fingerprints that were taken at a local constable's office.
He finally agreed to DPS' suggestion that he use an electronic fingerprint device run by a private company.
"I have a feeling that the Department of Public Safety is using the process as a filter to keep people from even having a gun," said Freeman, 60, who moved to Texas from Arizona last year.
Marsha McCartney, who represents the North Texas Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said she was surprised to learn that so many more Texans are applying to carry guns.
However, McCartney said she is more concerned about an expected battle in the next legislative session over whether the law should be changed to allow college students to carry guns on campus.
That's what they recently did. Next time you renew your license it will be good for five years.
>>I have no scientific data but I suspect that 2 in 100 Texans carry a gun on a regular basis”
Your assumption is just that. There are at least 1 in 6 who carry whether in their auto or on their person.
Makes me proud to be a Texan.
What I want to know, is how far in advance of your license expiring can you take the refresher course and submit your renewal application?
It sounds like a good idea to start earlier than usual.
In other words, "We are loathe to allow people to exercise their rights, and will drag our feet as long as we d@mn well please in spite of the legally imposed time constraints. On the other hand, give us one reason to revoke your license, and we'll be on you like a pack of pitbulls on a three-legged cat.
They left out the threat of The Race.
Sgt Sam is conservative on most issues, but far far too authoritarian on others. His basic premise is that if it is the law, then it is right. Unless he disagrees with it, of course. For example, this morning they were talking about a crackdown on Jaywalkers in Austin(isn't it nice to know all the REAL crime is gone??), and that there is a $500 fine attached. One of the hosts talked about how excessive the fine is, and Sam's response was basically "neener-neener".
And yes, 590 KLBJ is conservative; The morning show is, while not VERY conservative, quite right-of-center, and they host Boortz, Rush, and (somewhat libertarian) Jeff Ward.
'Course, they ALSO have Alex Jones, but I never listen to the radio in the evening ot weekends, so I never hear his latest updates on how the Illuminati are trying to do things to our precious vital fluids, etc etc.
good technique...
When handing over the DL, also hand over the CCW.
A clear statement to LEO that you’re one of the good guys.
Usually no ticket is issued.
If the Texas legislature was serious about doing something, they could at least pass temporary legislation saying that licenses expiring in 2008 are good until 2009, and then mandate that DPS staff up adequately to perform their jobs — or threaten to outsource the job to a private contractor
While I agree 100% that ANY regulation of firearms is blatantly unconstitutional, I like the idea of the training course. Carrying a weapon around in crowded public places is a lot different from a shooting range. The course also gives you a lot of information about when the use of deadly force is lawful; and that's for YOUR protection. The training helps give you the mental attitude, by way of knowledge, that you'll have no distracting doubts if you actually have to use your weapon.
However, the permit should be free of charge.
bttt
Aint that the case w/any government program ???
Greased lightnin getting to yer door to pick-up a 'card' on a routine protective order, mandated in some locales for EVERY divorce...
w/o the card everyone is muuuuuch safer right ????
Handing over a CHL is not good form; It is required by law at a traffic stop. Much tazering will ensue if they have to make a 2nd trip to you car.
Race riots when Obama loses?
Not sure if they meant to say that 1 in 6 own guns, or that 1 in 6 had a CHL.
I’d opt for some other explaination other CHL. 1/6th of the Texas population would be a heck of lot larger then the number of CHL they are quoting in the following from the article............
.....In 2007, lawmakers granted privacy to the 258,000 license holders by closing records that had been public since the concealed handgun law passed in 1995.
Goes a long way towards explaining why Texas is always such a nice place whenever I visit. I'm sure there are some not-so-nice places, but from Dallas to Weslaco, El Paso to Houston, and especially the Hill Country, probably the nicest collection of people in our union.
When it comes time to retire, what I'll say to the tax-happy politicians in Nebraska will be exactly what Davy Crockett said many years ago.
La Razza = The Race.
As they went to search my truck I informed them of my and my friend's shotguns being in there. The officers pulled the shotguns out and unloaded them. The officers seemed rather pleased with themselves.
The officers ran our information and we came back clean. They then ran the serial numbers on the shotguns and got the measuring tape out to check each barrel length.
After a good fourty-five minutes of them doing their job, my friend and I were uncuffed and had our shotguns and ammo returned. The DPS officer that seemed to be incharge did offer us an apology.
It seems they were responding to a call from one of my apartment neighbors that saw us carrying our shotguns to my truck to leave and called the police.
Well, I know "1 in 100" who carries two guns on a regular basis. How does that affect your statistics? <LOL!!!>
Required by Texas law.
~~~~~
The one time I was stopped, I did just that. The response was,
TXLEO: "Sir do you have it with you?"
TXnMA: "Yes, Sir."
TXLEO: "Good! It's no da*ned help if you don't have it with you!"
~~~~~
It surely is great being back home in God's Country!!!
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