TexasCHLforum.com

rjr5545 wrote:Looks like this is going to make it through. At least we still have the shooting. , and of course the people that want a real class with questions and answers.

There is a ray of hope for unsuspecting LTC applicants. The DPS "may" certify someone or some company to offer online courses, it is not required to do so. Until the repeal of renewal classes, the DPS had the authority to allow online renewal courses by any approved LTC instructor, but it never approved anyone and with good reason.

Also, as I and others have noted, I think the overall cost of an online course will exceed the cost of a live course, perhaps greatly so. This is especially true since anyone taking an online course will have to receive at least one hour of range instruction in addition to the range qualification. That means such students cannot be included in the range qualification portion of a live class. An LTC instructor will have to make special arrangements for online students.

I would have accepted online students in the range portion of my classes, if it were not for the hour of training required prior to the range qualification. I would have charged the same fee, but now online students will not be in my course. If someone wants private instruction for two hours, followed by the LTC qualification and a CHL-100, then I will do that at my regular private lesson rate. The overall cost to the student will be much higher than simply taking a live LTC course or even my combined Basic Handgun Skills Course/LTC Course.

This Bill was well-intended, but it ultimately won't reduce the cost to applicants.
Chas.

I have mixed feelings about this Bill. I applaud any reasonable effort to reduce the burden on citizens wanting to get a license to carry, but we have to watch out for unintended consequences. I share the concerns expressed by jmorris in his post. I have taken many online courses to meet my continuing legal education requirements, but none require a test. Neither do they cover subjects so critical to my safety and liberty that I want/need the opportunity to ask questions. The LTC class is arguably the most important safety/liberty class one can take, so a knowledgeable live instructor is critical, at least in my view.

I'm also very concerned about the criteria for being approved to provide online courses. LTC instructors are shut out and companies like Sylvan Learning Center will have the entire market. The benefits of a knowledgeable live instructor would also help to ensure better online courses, if they/we were allowed to offer courses. We know the types of questions we typically receive and we are in a better position to cover the less clear issues in an online course. As for testing, no one can ensure an honest test given online -- no one.

The overall cost to applicants using online courses is quite likely to be higher than a live course, when you consider the cost of the course, plus the fee to an instructor to provide the range qualification certificate. Most instructors will reduce their fees only slightly, especially when they have to pay a line fee to a range.

If online instruction were to be implemented, then the DPS should do it and there should be no fee. The written test could be administered by LTC instructors when the student comes to them for the range qualification.

Chas.