Harris, Galveston & Brazoria Co's: Email your state reps!

[quoheleth]

I just got off the phone with DPS in Austin. It's been almost a month since I last called, checking on my app, and was told that Harris County was the hold-up. I called again this morning, and got the same song, 2nd verse.

I asked "What do we need to do?" She said - and I quote - "Y'all need to start a revolution and contact your state representatives."

Fussing on this board is great for mutual edification and support, but now is the time to band together and contact state reps. Tell 'em that we citizens of Harris, Galveston and Brazoria counties respectfully demand additional staff in the CHL processing divisions.

http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/mnuAddress.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Let 'em hear it! With elections only a few months away, it's time to stir the pot! Special session was called! Get their attention! It's only going to get worse, the lady said, so we're not only fighting for our licenses but for those who have applied after us and will be stuck in the same boat!

Quoheleth

[BrianSW99]

I would wonder if they really have anything to do with it at all? I thought the issue was that there is only one DPS employee in Harris County doing the background checks.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I'm sitting here this morning, wondering if it would do any good for all of us Harris County residents to contact our precinct commissioners and fuss at them for this inexcusable delay. Let 'em know we're frustrated and we'll remember it come next election time!

http://www.co.harris.tx.us/county_depts.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Who else, besides the commissioners, needs to be contacted?

Quoheleth

What delays are you talking about? Do you mean CHL applications? If so, Harris County isn't the problem; it's DPS.

Chas.

[seamusTX]

If you're talking about slow processing of CHL background checks, the county commissioners have nothing to do with it. The background checks are conducted by a DPS employee.

The only thing that is going to get this problem fixed is every state representative and senator getting hundreds of faxes next year before the primary and general election. They take notice when they get hundreds of faxes on a single issue.

That should be easy to do. There are several thousand CHL holders per house and senate district.

It wont help with some, but you will get the satisfaction of annoying them.

- Jim

[quoheleth]

Then let the annoying begin!

edit: Letters sent to Rep. Joe Crabb and Senator Tommy Williams

Q
_____
July 1, 2009

Senator Tommy Williams
P. O. Box 8069
The Woodlands, Texas 77387-8069

Dear Senator Williams:

I am writing to express my displeasure and frustration at the slow processing of Texas Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHL) in Harris County.

After completing the requirements for the Texas CHL, I applied for my license in February. After having my fingerprints re-printed in early April and two months of “application processing” on the DPS CHL application website, I called the DPS office in Austin on June 6. I was told that the hold-up was in the Harris County background check.

June has passed and the DPS CHL application website continues to show “application processing.” A phone call to the DPS office this morning confirmed that Harris County’s background check process is still what is holding back my application from being completed.

It is now approaching five months since beginning the application process. While I recognize the fact that Harris County is the most populated county in the State, this delay is bordering on comical – especially when the State statute sets 60 days as the processing requirement by DPS.

Therefore, I am writing for three specific purposes:
- One, please facilitate the processing of my CHL application through Harris County;
- Two, urge DPS to expedite the applications of all Harris County residents; and
- Three, continue to support the Second Amendment rights of Texans.

Should you need to reach me, please feel free to do so at [email/phone/physical address]

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

[seamusTX]

Right now our representatives are grumbling about having to return to Austin for the special session. In the spring and fall of next year, they will be thinking about the upcoming elections.

Also, some of the current reps will be replaced one way or another.

People with experience in this sort of thing would know how to time it better than I.

The problem is the huge level of apathy. I forget the numbers, but of the 300,000 people with Texas CHLs, only a small fraction are members of the NRA or TSRA. If they're like the average Texan, they don't vote, or they vote based on yard signs and radio ads.

How do we even get the word out to people who aren't on an organization mailing list?

- Jim

[dwdog]

As a Federal Law Enforcement Officer, I would think that my application would be done pretty quick. Well I am currently on day 98. I called today. Still waiting on background from Galveston County. Guam, a small island 8,000 miles away that isn't a state but a territory got theirs done "BEFORE" Galeveston County. In fact I will make it easy, On the Galveston County web page, they have a wanted list. MY NAME IS NOT THERE!!!!! I guess, I may have to email my rep.

[CrimsonSoul]

I've contacted my senator 3 times now, day 60, day 90, and day 110 (Tuesday) I got a response the same day on day 60 and 90 but have yet to get a response on day 110, I'm hoping because of Independence Day and not because I'm being blown off

[RHenriksen]

Well, I've joined the rabble-rousers. Called my state senator (Mario Gallegos) and house rep (Ellen Cohen)'s offices today. Had very pleasant conversations with staffers at both locations. The girl at Gallegos' office seemed new, and I explained to her before she called the DPS legislative liason that DPS was going to blame Harris County (ie, their own DPS office in Harris) for the backlog, and that what this really meant was that DPS is failing to adequately staff their Harris Co. office. Also told her about TexasCHLForum.com, and that this is a common (and chronic) issue.

The lady at Ellen Cohen's Houston office already knew all about the problem, and seemed happy to have more fuel for the fire. Not only said she'd call DPS right away, but also asked me to call *her* back with any news or DPS contact I have going forward. Seemed very on the ball.

I'll look into sending an email to the governor's office as well - assume there's a link on the web for that, too.

For everyone who's been waiting > 90 days, *please* do add your voices to the crowd. Squeaky wheels are far, far better than silent suffering.

thanks,

RNH

[CrimsonSoul]

I'm trying to call the number listed at the DPS website (1-800-224-5744) but everytime I call it's ringing once or twice then giving me a busy signal. Am I using the right number or something?

[Chip]

I'm trying to call the number listed at the DPS website (1-800-224-5744) but everytime I call it's ringing once or twice then giving me a busy signal. Am I using the right number or something?

That's the correct number. Must be the February and March applicants getting fed up and burning up the phone lines.

edit: It's doing the same thing for me. Maybe they just got tired of answering the phones and saying "It's Harris County's fault."

[CrimsonSoul]

I'm trying to call the number listed at the DPS website (1-800-224-5744) but everytime I call it's ringing once or twice then giving me a busy signal. Am I using the right number or something?

That's the correct number. Must be the February and March applicants getting fed up and burning up the phone lines.

edit: It's doing the same thing for me. Maybe they just got tired of answering the phones and saying "It's Harris County's fault."

I post then try again and it works of course

[CrimsonSoul]

Day 113ish and still waiting on Brazoria Co BC

[Chip]

Day 113ish and still waiting on Brazoria Co BC

When you called DPS, did you mention anything about the 30day / 60 day requirements in the statutes? I've been just asking status, but I'm curious if anyone has said something like "you are exceeding your statutory time limits".

On the one hand I feel a little guilty for getting all worked up when I'm sitting on 90 days and there are some people who have been waiting months longer than me. But, without everyone involved making whatever noise possible, nothing will be done to fix the problem.

[dwdog]

I am on day 102. I have attempted to call the CHL office all day, but the switchboards have remained busy. I called Sen. Mike Jackson's office today. The secretary first gave me the spew about Hurricane Ike and the Presidential Election, then patched me thru to another lady, only for me to leave a message on her machine. I am a March applicant, but several April applicants are jumping in line and getting there's first (which really ticks me off), because of their Senator's/Reps. Plus, I am a law enforcement officer, why aren't I in the head of the line.