TexasCHLforum.com

The restrictions and costs of obtaining a CHL in TX are very clearly intended as a deterrent or impediment to normal citizens to get a CHL. Of course the whole idea of requiring a license to begin with is 100% counter to the idea of the "right" to bear arms.

When I applied for my CHL I still owed money to my county for property taxes. I contacted them about it, as I had been paying it on a schedule. They said they were perfectly content with me paying it on schedule, no problem. I had been in contact with them and worked this out. But in order for me to not risk throwing away my CHL fee, I had to pay it all right then and there.

If I hadn't had to pay that all at once, then I would have also taken my wife to the CHL class and she would have her own gun to carry.

Of course if there were no license fee, then we would both have a license right now (at least pending) and be a long way towards a second handgun for my wife. As it stands, I had to take a day off of work to go to the class, give up that income, and sell some things to pay for my CHL class+license costs.

Often times things like student loans, property taxes, and child support are issues either subject to dispute or available for resolution other than "full and final payment". So clearly the intent of the law is to use the CHL as leverage to force people to pay these debts and give up their other options or rights to dispute or resolution beyond full payment.

Quite simply I think the costs alone (both in time and fees), plus the cost of immediately resolving pending debts excludes a great number of people from obtaining a CHL and this is just as unconstitutional as a poll tax.