I haven't got my CHL yet... but I intend to in the near future. Here's what I think about it.
1. if it is my right to keep and bear arms, then it is my responsibility to equip myself to do so safely and responsibly. Just like any other right that I am free to exercise, I should be accountable if I am negligent. So it should be my responsibility and duty to do it right, and to train my children to do so, etc.
2. if it is my right to keep and bear arms, then it is no business of the government's to impose fees or mandatory training. What if they did that before you would be allowed to vote? Or to speak? It's absurd.
The ONLY reason I am not carrying right now is because of the cost and schedule inconvenience of both the mandatory training course in TX and the fee to get the license. They can do a background check in 5 minutes and in fact they did when I bought the handgun. This should be sufficient. I took it upon myself to go to the range and learn to handle my gun promptly when I got it, and I sought the one on one training of those who I know and trust to teach me what I need to know, rather than an institutionalized minimum standard regimen. I think this is fair game.
I would not be so opposed to requiring a written test to verify you know the law. Some minimal fee in order to grade the test and administer the (one time, forever) license would be fine, coupled with the 5 minute electronic background check. Like $20 max. But $250-300 in fees and training costs, not to mention an entire 10 hour work day that must be committed to a continuous course is a steep impediment IMHO.
I'm in favor of training, just not state-mandated, state-administered training.