Great news for Texas vets

[one-eyed-fatman]

If it passes...

HB 322 by Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp (R-Lampasas) comes to the floor of the Texas House for debate and vote on Tuesday, March 22.

Rep. Hupp's legislation would allow a person between 18 and 21, serving in a branch of the military or who is a veteran and not dishonorably discharged, to be eligible for a concealed handgun license. This legislation also reduces all state charged fees associated with the concealed handgun license for all members or veterans of the United States Armed Forces by 50 percent, unless the applicant was dishonorably discharged. The bill includes the reserves and national guard.

[[TASF]Overkill]

Aren't CHL's in Texas already pretty easy to get? What changes if you're a veteran? Just the price?

[DigMe]

Originally Posted by [TASF

Overkill]Aren't CHL's in Texas already pretty easy to get? What changes if you're a veteran? Just the price?

The difference is the age. Currently in Texas you cannot obtain a CHL if you're under 21. According to fat cyclops she's proposing that soldiers between 18 and 21 be eligible.

brad cook

[cwblanco]

Originally Posted by one-eyed-fatman

If it passes...

HB 322 by Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp (R-Lampasas) comes to the floor of the Texas House for debate and vote on Tuesday, March 22.

Rep. Hupp's legislation would allow a person between 18 and 21, serving in a branch of the military or who is a veteran and not dishonorably discharged, to be eligible for a concealed handgun license. This legislation also reduces all state charged fees associated with the concealed handgun license for all members or veterans of the United States Armed Forces by 50 percent, unless the applicant was dishonorably discharged. The bill includes the reserves and national guard.

I have conducted a search of pending bills and read their contents. HB 322 appears to be a medicaid bill. However, there are two pending bills which address the topic of this thread:

HB 233 sponsored by Ritter - Waives all fees for active or veterans of the military. This would result in a loss of a lot of revenue by the state and probably will not pass.

HB 954 sponsored by Farabee - Waives 1/2 of all fees for active or retired military. I presume that those starying in for only one enlistment would not be considered "retired," and would not qualify under this bill. It does not refer to "veterans" as does HB 233. Also, it does not address fees to be charged to those 60 and over who already are paying only a 1/2 fee.

[cwblanco]

Originally Posted by cwblanco

IHB 954 sponsored by Farabee - Waives 1/2 of all fees for active or retired military. I presume that those starying in for only one enlistment would not be considered "retired," and would not qualify under this bill. It does not refer to "veterans" as does HB 233. Also, it does not address fees to be charged to those 60 and over who already are paying only a 1/2 fee.

This bill (Texas) as ultimately enacted includes honorably discharged veterans. It goes into effect on September 1, 2007. The regular concealed weapon fee for non-veterans is $140.00 first time and $70.00 for renewals. Over 60 is one half of that. Veterans will be only one-half of what otherwise would be charged. Thus, fees for veterans will be:

Veteran Under 60:
- First time $70.00
- Renewals $35.00

Veteran 60+
- First time $35.00
- Renewals $17.50

For my next renewal, it will be less than my driver's license. Now that is one heck of a deal.

Also starting on September 1, 2007, pursuant to another enacted bill, persons may carry a loaded handgun in their vehicles without regard to whether they have a concealed license or whether they are "traveling." Of course this excludes felons and the like.