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At work yesterday, a fellow chl holder told me that starting in march of next year, you will have to take a 300 question online test along with the test we already took. has this been covered on here before or has anyone heard anything about it? He had a web page pulled up with a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo but didnt get time to read it over because the boss walked by.

Gads! That's the first I've heard of it! I'm skeptical about the claim though.

If you can get that url and pass it along, I'd REALLY like to read it.

I go to work at 2 and have to work 12 hrs but ill try and get it and post on here when i get off.

I have heard that there is steps being taken to make the classroom portion of getting a CHL 100% online. Then, you would have to go to a range to qualify/fingerprint/pictures. But, nothing about a 300 question exam along with the other 50. This is an interesting topic. I'm sure the CHL instructors here will have more insight to this.

There are several unfounded rumors running around about changes to the CHL program. I'll address a few here.

Alice Tripp and I meet with DPS Monday about a number of CHL issues. I mentioned the rumors I had heard about an online test for CHL's; requiring a CHL's application be approved by DPS before they could take the course; and a few others. The short answer is that there is no truth to any of these rumors. All present thought it was ironic that some of the rumors began at instructor renewal schools.

We were specifically told that the only online test in the works is the one for CHL Instructor renewals and that is because a change in the Gov't Code makes this mandatory. There is nothing in the works for an online test for CHL's, but obviously that could change in the future. We discussed the fact that doing anything that prevented instructors from offering one-stop classes was a step in the wrong direction and they agreed. The only exception was the movement toward requiring digital fingerprints only and that absolutely is coming. There were discussions about applicants in rural areas not close to a FAST location and we offered suggestions that were well received.

The ex-Navy SEAL that was running the CHL division for a short while has moved to another department. The new head of the division is a DPS Captain and I'm very happy to report that his enthusiasm for streamlining the entire process equals that of his predecessor. They are rapidly moving toward a fully automated online system that will be much better for everyone. We also discussed potential changes to the statute that would help even more and I believe we will be able to work together on beneficial legislation. I know the question is coming, so let me say that I can't give any details about the legislative improvements we want to pass in 2011. This is an open forum and I don't want our opposition to know what's in the works.

The new leadership team in the CHL division remains dedicated to improving the entire system, but if that changes, I'll be the first to publish that information.

Chas.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:
I know the question is coming, so let me say that I can't give any details about the legislative improvements we want to pass in 2011. This is an open forum and I don't want our opposition to know what's in the works.


Chas.

Thats very exciting. I can't wait to hear whats in store!

Thanks for clearing this question up Charles.

Quote: "All present thought it was ironic that some of the rumors began at instructor renewal schools."

Guessin' no one present there was present at my Sept. 15, 2009 renewal school. That "presenter" too has moved on to another department. He was real high on the possibility of one particular company handling it, the same company that helped do such a good job of them keeping tabs on ............ child molestors.

Thanks for the clarifications, Chas. Too bad about the mandatory digital fingerprinting. That's gonna be a real annoying hoop for some people ...

Mandatory digital fingerprinting is OK by me. Mandatory digital fingerprinting that can ONLY be done by FAST is NOT OK by me.

We could easily do digital prints and submit on paper if they don't want to give us access to electronic submission. But, to give one company a monopoly on this whole setup is NOT a good thing.

When I was preparing for my class and application, I made an effort to use the FAST system. I found out that they were not available for everyone.

I live just outside Corpus Christi. I could make an appointment and drive to Brownsville, taking about five and a half hours round trip. If I did not like that, I could make an appointment, drive about four and a half hours round trip to San Antonio.

Did not care for either option. Went to local police building with my TWO fingerprint cards, they took care of it in about 15 minutes at no charge.

I did not have to use fifty bucks in gas, pay the high FAST fee, or lose at least half a day driving all around S. Texas.

Nothing against digital prints, actually prefer them, but do not want to have to go through the hassle.

Crossfire is RIGHT! The whole process should be MORE streamlined and OPEN. If paper prints are not good, enough then just eliminate the prints all together. (GRRRRR!)

We are NOT the bad guys AND have years of excellent records to prove it.

The whole process should be getting Much less of a hassle and Much Lower Cost. Even more so for renewals.

Blue

After talking to the guy at work im pretty sure it was all made up. He said a vender at the george r brown gun show had told him that. And the legal mumbo jumbo he was looking at at the time was him trying to find it online. Thanks for the input and outlook Charles L. Cotton your always a help

blue wrote: Crossfire is RIGHT! The whole process should be MORE streamlined and OPEN. If paper prints are not good, enough then just eliminate the prints all together. (GRRRRR!)

We are NOT the bad guys AND have years of excellent records to prove it.

The whole process should be getting Much less of a hassle and Much Lower Cost. Even more so for renewals.

Blue

This begs the question, why are prints required every time? I was printed for the army, I was printed for my security clearance, I was printed for access to a secured FBI facility, I was printed for a SO commission, I was printed for the fire department and I was printed by NSA for homeland security and a few other occasions...this doesn't even mention all of the times I've been printed for a CHL. I think they have a pretty good handle on my swirls. Why do they need them time and again?

Do they require new prints for a CHL renewal? Why? Do they expect that they've changed since the original CHL? I would think once they have them, they have them!

sjfcontrol wrote:Do they require new prints for a CHL renewal? Why? Do they expect that they've changed since the original CHL? I would think once they have them, they have them!

Major advances in the medical field are happening all the time. And we are all getting older. They require new photos and fingerprints in case you have had head or hand transplants.

Keith B wrote:

sjfcontrol wrote:Do they require new prints for a CHL renewal? Why? Do they expect that they've changed since the original CHL? I would think once they have them, they have them!

Major advances in the medical field are happening all the time. And we are all getting older. They require new photos and fingerprints in case you have had head or hand transplants.

Well, the picture I understand. In fact, my picture looks absolutely horrible. Taken against a white background, it made my "off-white" hair completely disappear. I look like a freak with a somewhat dented head where the hair is around my temples, and a receding hairline making me look almost like a cone-head! Barely recognizable as human. I thought SURE they would reject the pictures -- but they didn't. My driver's license picture is against a blue background and is FAR superior.

As for the fingerprints, I think I'll have my fingerprints transplanted so that I can shuffle the prints around to different fingers between each renewal. That'll confuse them!