Comments on: Shorter CHL Classes: Can it be Done Safely? http://www.texasshooting.com/blog/?p=309 Snapshots from the world of shooting - Self-defense & Sport Shooting Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:15:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Charles L. Cotton http://www.texasshooting.com/blog/?p=309&cpage=1#comment-3559 Charles L. Cotton Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:15:12 +0000 http://www.texasshooting.com/blog/?p=309#comment-3559 You are correct about the statutory requirements concerning subject matter, but the DPS has always required instructors to administer the same written test to both new and renewal students. Therefore, as instructors we are required to cover all of the same material for risk our students not being able to pass the written exam. I do think that I'll make this part of the discussion more clear in the future. Thanks for bring it up. Chas. You are correct about the statutory requirements concerning subject matter, but the DPS has always required instructors to administer the same written test to both new and renewal students. Therefore, as instructors we are required to cover all of the same material for risk our students not being able to pass the written exam.

I do think that I’ll make this part of the discussion more clear in the future. Thanks for bring it up.

Chas.

]]> By: Leatherneck Arms http://www.texasshooting.com/blog/?p=309&cpage=1#comment-3542 Leatherneck Arms Sat, 05 Jan 2013 00:42:40 +0000 http://www.texasshooting.com/blog/?p=309#comment-3542 Charles, This paragraph in your otherwise excellent article is incorrect. "Since instructors have been teaching the statutorily-mandated material to renewal students in less than four hours (remember, range time is currently included in the four hour classes), they obviously must add six hours of filler when teaching the ten hour initial class. Depending upon the competency of individual instructors, some of the six hours of material added as filler may be excellent, but it is unnecessary to meet the legislative goal of teaching the mandated subject matter. Forcing Texas gun owners to sit through a ten hour class to learn the same material that is taught in four hours to renewal students 1) is unnecessarily time consuming; 2) inflates the cost of obtaining an initial CHL; 3) increases student fatigue that hinders learning and retention; and 4) encourages Texans to obtain concealed carry licenses from other states with shorter class requirements." There are four mandated subjects for a first time class and only one of the four for a renewal class. So, they're not being taught exactly the same material and therefore comparing the time it takes to teach each is invalid. I agree that less time is necessary but to strengthen the argument you should reconsider revising the narrative or, and I hope this isn't the case (but I could live with it if it's warranted), correcting me. Charles,

This paragraph in your otherwise excellent article is incorrect.

“Since instructors have been teaching the statutorily-mandated material to renewal students in less than four hours (remember, range time is currently included in the four hour classes), they obviously must add six hours of filler when teaching the ten hour initial class. Depending upon the competency of individual instructors, some of the six hours of material added as filler may be excellent, but it is unnecessary to meet the legislative goal of teaching the mandated subject matter. Forcing Texas gun owners to sit through a ten hour class to learn the same material that is taught in four hours to renewal students 1) is unnecessarily time consuming; 2) inflates the cost of obtaining an initial CHL; 3) increases student fatigue that hinders learning and retention; and 4) encourages Texans to obtain concealed carry licenses from other states with shorter class requirements.”

There are four mandated subjects for a first time class and only one of the four for a renewal class. So, they’re not being taught exactly the same material and therefore comparing the time it takes to teach each is invalid. I agree that less time is necessary but to strengthen the argument you should reconsider revising the narrative or, and I hope this isn’t the case (but I could live with it if it’s warranted), correcting me.

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