TexasCHLforum.com

I completely understand the argument, as well as the historical facts behind it.
I just don't buy that there's any racial MOTIVATION, today, behind the cost for a TX CHL. Maybe I'm just naive.
In fact, the TX CHL is available at a reduced feel to "indigent" persons.
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... tefees.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'll agree with you that higher cost impacts poor people more than wealthy.
And I'll agree that a higher percentage of minorities are poor vs. whites.
But to call a high cost "racist", per-se, I don't agree.

If you spend your time looking for racist motivations for things, it's very easy to find, even when racism really isn't the cause/motivation. If I own a restaurant and my prices are high, am I a racist? Silliness. But I can call it racism by the same logic applied here to CHL's.

Sorry.. too far OT. I'll stop..

I know that's the argument, but, it doesn't float with me.
High cost = high cost. Money is all green (pretty much).
I'll skip taking this off topic..... The notion that high cost = racism just rankles me a bit.
Peace.

Jumping Frog wrote:

03Lightningrocks wrote:I wish the Texas CHL costs were not so high. I believe it causes a sort of wealth descrimination. That is a whole nother topic...LOL.

It is also a form of racism, as the entire history of gun control has proven to be.

How does "High Cost" = "Racism"?

I guess it comes down to this.... Should Texas recognize an out of state license held by a Texas resident that does not also have a Texas license?

One easy solution would be to say NO...
Then the only issue becomes deciding which states to honor reciprocally, based on the standards of each States' license requirements.

Honestly, I'd rather Texas take a look at every state license program, pick the one's that they will honor and if I can get a reciprocal license for less cost and less hassle from Utah or Virginia, so be it. The question would then become a business decision..... If Texas sees fit to honor a VA permit, and Texas residents choose to forgo a TX permit in favor of VA, what can TX do to capture that revenue and better serve TX residents?

Really what it comes down to is that Texas needs to lower the hurdles it's erected. A TX permit is too expensive and the 10-hour class is unnecessary if you can show evidence of comparable training/proficiency and pass a free written exam that covers TX law, just like a free written driving test.

Jumping Frog wrote:

Griz44 wrote:My issue with licenses like the UTAH issue and now Virginia is that it takes away from this state and demeans the integrity of our own statutes that have been voted for and passed by our own people.

Baloney.

The Texas statutes have a mechanism defined for establishing reciprocity with other states. If we do not like the other state's standards (which they also have a right to set for themselves), then we simply stop reciprocity with that state. How in the world is VA "demeaning the integrity of our own statutes" when we are the ones that chose to recognize their license?

I think the OP is way off base... the whole premise of the argument is wrong.

1. Texas law is ok for Texas.... but... requiring a permit is unconstitutional regardless of whether your state has a permit law.
Do I need a permit to carry a knife? a baseball bat?, take martial arts training?
2. Texas recognizes VA permits... excellent
3. Somebody found a way to circumvent the VA process... Oops.
4. VA can decide to fix their law to close the loophole, or not.
5. IMO, the Texas permit is WAY expensive and the 10-hour class requirement is a waste of time for those of us that can read and understand CHL-16 without sitting in a classroom. While I think it's a great idea for everyone to pass a test on the TX law, why not make it like a drivers license test...?? Walk in, take the test, and if you pass... you pass? Why a 10-hour class? Just another obstacle (and expense) to satisfy the anti's.

So.... If I can mail in a form and get a VA license that TX will recognize... Great... I do not think it "cheapens" the TX license one bit. In fact, I have a FL license that I acquired in exactly that way about 10 years ago. FL accepted my NC license class as proof of training and after a background check they sent me a FL license. Done. I'd say it's incentive for TX to reduce it's burden for issuing a TX license to TX residents. When I arrived in TX, they took my NC drivers license and issued me a TX drivers license. I didn't have to take a written test or a driving test. Why not a similar courtesy for my NC carry permit? I am not one iota prouder to be carrying a "hard to get" Texas license and I feel no obligation to protect its "integrity".

Please show me where in the US Constitution it says that a proficiency test and a 10 hour class are required for a US citizen to exercise their G-d-given right to self defense.



The ramifications of this in today's political environment are certainly an interesting discussion, but we'd be remiss not to start by acknowledging that even the Texas requirements are unconstitutional.