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Here is some additional information prepared concerning my Texas License to Carry (formerly CHL) class that I offer in El Paso.

The classroom and shooting portion of the test takes place beginning at 9 a.m. on the day advertised.  As a venue, I am using a private, indoor range and classroom in the Upper Valley off Westside Drive. It is a private range, not open to the public.  I provide easy to follow directions as we get close to the event.  Plugging the street address into a GPS may not be helpful, and for that reason, I don’t offer it. Google and Apple want to send you through a cotton field on a road that has not been completed.  The accommodations are not luxurious, located in a former machine shop, but they are large enough that we can maintain a good social distance.

The classroom session generally runs a little over four hours and ends with a 25-question quiz.  No one who has taken my class has ever missed more than two questions – providing they are fluent in English.  You can miss seven questions and still pass; so, not to worry about the test.  In fact, you might be able to pass the test just using common sense. However, you will not be aware of some issues in Texas law that could get you in trouble unless you are aware of them. You may find it helpful to take notes.  I will need your driver’s license information as part of the file I am now required to keep on you for six years.

PLEASE NOTE:  In anticipation, you will pass the course, I prepare certificates of completion in advance and present them to you immediately on completion of the course.  If you do not provide me with this information beforehand, you cannot get the certificate on completion of the course.

I charge $85 for the classroom and shooting proficiency test.  But that is not the only fee.  The owner of the range collects $10 for use of the classroom and range.  The State of Texas collects an application fee of $40 (down from $140 until recently) unless you have a discount (it is free for active-duty military). And, lastly, there there is a $10 fingerprinting fee paid to the Texas government contractor, Identigo. So, all in, with no discounting, you are looking at max $145. The certificates you get from me are good for one year. However, if you start and do not complete your DPS application, it will expire in 90 days and you will lose any payment made to the DPS. And you must begin the DPS part of the process all over.

Depending on the number of students and their experience, the shooting test, and range instruction can usually be done in an hour or two, depending on the number of students.  While it is possible for a first-time shooter to take and pass the test, it better, safer, and more valuable to you if you take a basic handgun safety course and get some practice with your handgun before taking the Texas exam.

CAUTION:  You must be able to operate your pistol with confidence.  If you have a semi-automatic handgun that jams three times during the proficiency test, on the third malfunction you will be asked to have the gun checked, cleaned, and lubricated before coming back to me to redo the proficiency test.

I offer and am certified to teach the NRA basic pistol course and Home Firearm Safety courses — if you want either of those as preparation for additional coursework. I also do a non-certified short course that runs about half a day covering the basics for beginning shooters.  The latter would include a look at various types of pistols, ammunition, stance, grip, and sight alignment.

If you take any of those courses with me, I guarantee you won’t have a problem with the License to Carry shooting proficiency test and that you will be much safer and more confident with a firearm.  The LTC shooting proficiency test is not difficult.  However, it is designed for you to demonstrate you can safely operate a handgun and that you have the dexterity and skill to safely load, unload, and shoot multiple times.  The LTC course is NOT designed to teach beginners how to shoot. I will explain how the test works and is scored in detail during the class. Or, for further details immediately, click on the proficiency test section of this website.

For the shooting proficiency test, as of September 1, 2017, LTC applicants may use a.22 caliber or larger handgun.  A .22 is a good choice if you are not too familiar with pistol shooting. The recoil and noise are quite limited and the ammo is the least expensive of all.  Fifty rounds of ammunition are required for the test.  The handgun can be either a revolver or a semi-automatic.  You also need to bring ear and eye protection.  If you do not own a handgun, or would like to try another gun, I rent several handguns and I can provide appropriate ammunition. For further information on handgun rentals, please click on that section of the website.

If you have not purchased a handgun but are planning too, I will be happy to discuss some of the best options for you.  Some of the local gun stores offer a discount for my students.

When you show up for the class, please do not bring any guns or ammunition into the classroom.  Your handgun must be stored in your locked car (always out of sight) during the class.  I would prefer that it be unloaded when you arrive so you are NOT coming to the range with a pre-loaded handgun; however, under Texas law, it is legal for you to have a loaded handgun in your car without a license. It must be out of sight, and the car must be locked if you leave it. And if you step out of the car into a public street with a handgun in your possession, and you do not have an LTC, it is a violation.

After completing both the classroom and shooting proficiency sections of the course I will present you with certificates that you will then submit to the Department of Public Safety as the next step in obtaining your license to carry.  I do not give discounts to the LTC class for bringing additional people.  The reason is that while it doesn’t cost anything more to have an extra person sitting in the classroom, there is a fair amount of paperwork processing, liability, and record-keeping that is required of me on behalf of each LTC student.

PLEASE CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND LET ME KNOW OF YOUR PLANS TO ATTEND (IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY SIGNED UP).  YOU CAN REACH ME VIA E-MAIL, TEXT OR PHONE (CONTACT INFO BELOW.)

Also, don’t forget — in anticipation that you will pass, and speed things up on the day of the class, please e-mail or text me with YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE NUMBER AND FULL NAME EXACTLY AS IT APPEARS ON YOUR LICENSE. That way I can get a jump start on your paperwork and certificates and have them ready to present to you at the range immediately after completing both the classroom and shooting proficiency test. The name you give me must match your driver’s license exactly or your LTC application will be rejected.

Please feel free to call with questions or concerns.  I look forward to seeing you and I hope you find the course enjoyable.

Tom Fenton

LTC/CHL Instructor

Cell: 637-5442

Best non-published e-mail: tomfenton@elpasoinc.com

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