Do You Think That State Reps Help?

[chuck_in_texas]

Just finished the third set of fingerprints and sent them off. (Frisst set was ink-and-roll, sets 2 and 3 were both FAST Scan electronic ones).

Following advice many of you gave me when I reported this in a post (I'm 70 and my hands are rather beaten-up and wrinkled), I wrote a letter to my state rep (who has been supportive of 2nd Amendment issues). Rather than mail it, I dropped it off at his office, which is just a few miles from me, and chatted with staff there. (He's in Austin this week.)

Got an email response saying they we're going to look into it, as they were not yet aware of any age-related denials or stoppages. I'm playing the "age-discrimination" card, but why not? Hopefully, this may help me.

I was resistant to going any higher, to the gov or the US senators, as they undoubtedly receive hundreds of times this much traffic daily, and I figured the letter would just get lost in the shuffle. Any ideas?

[JonK]

I hope contacting a rep helps. Good luck

I just contacted my State Senator in the hopes that she can help. I would have gone to the reps office but in my district Democrat only with less than desirable views on the second amendment.

For those of you who have done this with success have you used email, phone or written letter? I used email but was wondering if I should call or write a formal letter.

-Jon

[Keith B]

Just finished the third set of fingerprints and sent them off. (Frisst set was ink-and-roll, sets 2 and 3 were both FAST Scan electronic ones).

Following advice many of you gave me when I reported this in a post (I'm 70 and my hands are rather beaten-up and wrinkled), I wrote a letter to my state rep (who has been supportive of 2nd Amendment issues). Rather than mail it, I dropped it off at his office, which is just a few miles from me, and chatted with staff there. (He's in Austin this week.)

Got an email response saying they we're going to look into it, as they were not yet aware of any age-related denials or stoppages. I'm playing the "age-discrimination" card, but why not? Hopefully, this may help me.

I was resistant to going any higher, to the gov or the US senators, as they undoubtedly receive hundreds of times this much traffic daily, and I figured the letter would just get lost in the shuffle. Any ideas?

US Senators probably won't help as this is a state issues license.

I would suggest contacting the DPS licensing office and advise them since this is the 3rd set it is the best they can get and see if they will accept them as is. If they try to kick them back again, then I would go on up to the Gov's office.

[Pete92FS]

I guess it depends on who your Rep. is.

Took CHL - Top Gun - Dan Blackford - 10/04/08
Sent Paperwork - 10/10/08
Received PIN - 10/31/08
Sent fax to State Rep. Beverly Wooley - Dist. 136 - 1/11/09.
Received Plastic - 1/26/09

Faster than your normal Harris Co. turnaround.


Pete92FS

Beretta 92FS
Walther PPK/S
NRA

[Jake]

After waiting 118 days for my license to be approved I contacted State Representative Joe Driver (via email and through his website) and asked for his assistance. He is the Chairman of the House Law Enforcement Committee. Within 7 days the application was approved and the plastic overnighted to my home. Representative Driver represents counties in DFW. I reside in Montgomery County. He assisted even though I'm not a constituent.

[WEC]

FWIW, I wrote Rick Perry's office in the hopes that any action would be deemed more "urgent" but all I got was a cut-and-paste response letter that they would "look into the situation and try to expedite things, etc., etc." After waiting a bit longer, I decided to write (via e-mail) my state rep and state senator. That's when things really got going, and after a couple of replies and personal calls, DPS had approved my application within a couple of weeks. YMMV, of course, but good luck.

[Jake]

I wrote the govenor and received a form letter. I wrote my own representative and received a phone call. I wrote Rep. Driver and got plastic.

[chuck_in_texas]

Thanks for the advice, all! Jake, I like your idea of contacting Rep. Driver, since it got you your palstic so soon. I'll wait a bit and see it my own contact bears any fruit. I guess contacting Rep Driver-----and contacting the DPS director-----would be my next steps. With a little luck it won't come to that.

[southboundp]

I contacted my Rep. Susan King via email this morning. About 15 minutes later, I got a call from one of her workers to get a little more info from me so she could call and check the status and light a fire under them. She said they see very good results when the Representatives get involved, with the applicant hearing from the DPSCHL office within 5 days to report status. It's worth a shot.

[Oldgringo]

The squeaking wheel gets the grease (or replaced). Apply the grease as far up the state axle as you can reach and back down again.

Good luck.

[chuck_in_texas]

Follow-up:

At least I'm now getting some action. I dropped a letter off at my State Rep's office on April 2, and received a "we're checking it out" email from them on 4/3.

This morning I received a call from a very polite young worker at the DPS, who explained that fingerprints often do go through cycles, and they understand that, but that she would do what she could to expedite mine through the system, noting that--indeed--after the 3rd re-take they probably were not going to get any better. BTW, since she was extra polite, so was I. No point in blaming this young lady for the slow-downs in the system.

I'll give you a report when I hear more. Thanks to all for the advice that got me going down this road in the first place!