My CHL application (submitted in February) is in limbo. For the time being, the story is that they are neither going to accept or deny my license. They (Texas Department of Public Safety) have referred my case to the Medical Advisory Board, which has required that I get a "sound judgment evaluation" before my license can go through. I have to find a psychiatrist willing to do such an assessment, become a patient, get the evaluation done, have the psychiatrist fill out the forms (provided for me by the Board), and submit the forms all within the next 30 days or the Medical Advisory Board says they'll have to "return the file back to DPS", where I guess it will continue to sit.
In case you're wondering, I had *one* incident about 13 to 14 years ago which I self-reported on the CHL application. Basically, I had a girlfriend at the time who broke my heart, and I didn't know how to deal with it, so I became really depressed, then angry. Pretty stupidly, I started lashing out at her and her friends, and at one point I said I would kill all of them. Well, bad move, because they thought I was serious enough to have the police search my apartment, and they found my home defense pistol. No arrest, no charges or anything, but they strongly suggested that I seek counseling and psychiatric treatment. Well, I agreed with them, and so I spent about 2 weeks in a hospital, following up with another couple of months of therapy and outpatient visits, etc. After that, my treatment ended, and my doctors and I agreed I was completely over my depression. That was 13 years ago, and I hardly remember most of the details now. I self-reported it because the application asks for any and all hospital stays, even voluntary ones.
So even though I haven't had or needed any kind of evaluation or treatment in the past 13 years, I now find it imminent that I locate a psychiatrist who is willing to "vouch" for me, and do so fast to meet the deadline. It feels like a pretty odd scenario. I spent a large part of Tuesday calling around Dallas trying to find a psychiatrist who is able and willing to do such a test and fill out the paperwork, but so far I have been unsuccessful. Many of the receptionists that I talk to don't really understand what I'm asking for. Several have asked me to sign up as a patient before they can answer the question (really)?
Do any of you know any doctors specializing in psychiatry (preferably near the Dallas area -- but I may get desperate) who are willing and able to do a "sound judgment evaluation" and fill out the Medical Advisory Board forms? ANY recommendations would be helpful. Anyone know any "gun-knowledgeable" or "gun-friendly" psychiatrists?
Thanks in advance for any help you guys could suggest!!
Let me know also if you think there is a better category to post this topic in.
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