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........Specifically for those who submitted applications in July-August. I fear we are victims of opportunity. Hurricane Ike created the perfect opportunity for Harris County government offices to cop a plea in an effort to explain lack of efficiency, supervision, and responsibility. "I'm sorry boss, but I'm still devistated from that hurricane experience. Please excuse me for not being able to sit in front of this computer like I'm sposed to and mouse click like I did before the storm."

You know how I feel about this topic, and I feel very lucky to have gotten mine. That being said, Harris County has completely dropped the ball concerning CHL applicants, and has the audacity to blame a tragic storm for their shortcomings. It's a joke, and is borderline illegal as far as I'm concerned.

Don't feel bad, I went thru the course June 7th and DPS had all my info on the 13th of June. Still waiting on my background check. I contacted the Governor’s office and my local State rep and still no help other than an explanation of why since the hurricane that’s why the back ground checks are behind. According to DPS which I just got off the phone with everything else is fine.

I have always felt that the NUMBER ONE pre-qualification for becoming a Harris County background checker is that you have to have previously been an employee of the IRS. Beleive me, no hurricane would ever stop the IRS from pounding down on the little man, EVEN Harris County residents.

I contacted my state rep about the Harris County delay. They wanted to blame the whole problem on DPS and talked about how they would be addressing the staffing issue in appropriations. I told him that DPS isn't the problem in this case. Harris County is being opportunistic in blaming Ike for their own short-comings. Since my rep's district covers a part of Harris County, I asked them to please muscle some influence on the county. He said they would get back to me.

I also had a very nice conversation with Simone at DPS Austin. She said that things are slowly improving at DPS, but there's no light at the end of the tunnel without some additional staff. She said that the BC's from Harris County are just slowly trickling in, and that they have always been slow, even before Ike. Just 2 blocks north and I could have lived in Montgomery County! Simone said that everything else is in order and complete, and as soon as they receive my BC from Harris County, my license will be issued almost immediately.

Try asking DPS when they turned over your back ground check to Harris County. They wont tell you, why is that such a seceret? Is it due to the lack of personal at DPS? Whats pretty sad is tomorrow will make 5 months for me that DPS has had this application. Heck I dont remember it taking this long to get my top secrect security clearance from the US Government.

checking in, and hopefully out soon!

updated my time table in signature.

You would think since there is an influx of applications they could take a little of that money and staff a few more people. It didn't take them any time at all to cash my check. They should change the rule that until the application is completed the personal checks cannot be cashed that should get some fire up under them. Or even the person with the most applications completed at the end of the month gets a small bonus or something. But... oh... thats right... they don't really care.

Jasheeky wrote:checking in, and hopefully out soon!

updated my time table in signature.

Jasheeky, when you e-mailed the Gov's office, what exactly did you say that got things rolling that quick? Or is it just a coincidence?

pdubyoo wrote: Jasheeky, when you e-mailed the Gov's office, what exactly did you say that got things rolling that quick? Or is it just a coincidence?

I sure do wish I saved a copy of that email. Not in my sentbox because I used their online form to send the email.
I basically told them my time table starting from mid June, how I paid them, and that Ike was being used as an excuse. I also mentioned that was worried after the elections that things would change. I asked him to muscle dps/harris county around, because by law it should be issued within 60 days of submission, or at least a reason for denial.

of course my letter was more professional than the example above, as well as more patriotic.

Jasheeky wrote:

pdubyoo wrote: Jasheeky, when you e-mailed the Gov's office, what exactly did you say that got things rolling that quick? Or is it just a coincidence?

I sure do wish I saved a copy of that email. Not in my sentbox because I used their online form to send the email.
I basically told them my time table starting from mid June, how I paid them, and that Ike was being used as an excuse. I also mentioned that was worried after the elections that things would change. I asked him to muscle dps/harris county around, because by law it should be issued within 60 days of submission, or at least a reason for denial.

of course my letter was more professional than the example above, as well as more patriotic.

I did send a letter to the Gov's office, just like you mentioned, through the state website, and pretty much said things along the same lines. I did get a response from Dede Keith (Constituent Communication Div) from the Gov's office today. I mentioned that DPS-Austin was waiting on DPS-Harris County for the BC. But I also mentioned that the contact at DPS-Austin told me that DPS-Harris County was notoriously slow, even before Ike. That seemed to have struck a cord, because the Gov's office has asked Major Stan Clark (Interim Director of DPS) to personally look into the matter and report back to the Gov's office. This was mentioned in the response I got from Dede Keith. I was told that I will be updated when the Gov's office gets their response.

I hope this has some positive effect on ALL Harris County applications that are being held-up due to the Ike excuse. Time will tell.

"I am asking Major Stan Clark, Interim Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, for his staff’s assistance in reviewing and responding both to you and this office on the information shared."

is what my email said.

well, my plastic was sent out yesterday according to DPS phone queen. I don't know if that means gone to the mailroom and waiting to be sent, or actually sent out...probably the former. I did not get anything in the mail today, and first class mail from austin should only take 1 day.

Jasheeky wrote:"I am asking Major Stan Clark, Interim Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, for his staff’s assistance in reviewing and responding both to you and this office on the information shared."

is what my email said.

The letter I got was similar, but slightly different verbiage. I'm sure it's a boiler-plate response. Next is another call to Austin.

Jasheeky wrote:"I am asking Major Stan Clark, Interim Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, for his staff’s assistance in reviewing and responding both to you and this office on the information shared."

I wrote the governor's office as well, and this was the exact response I got from Dede Keith. Now, I know I haven't waited nearly as long as some of you poor souls, but my letter was due to other extenuating circumstances. Pdubyoo is probably right, this is a boiler-plate response. In my mind I do feel that all of these letters will have a cumulative effect that will eventually lead to some changes and speed things up. Yep, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Well I sent another letter yesterday to the Governor'soffice saying that I have not had any response back yet form DPS, and basically telling them Its been 5 months now and I want someone to contact me. I left home nuber, and cell number. I would bet that nobody calls me.