Fellow patriots, I am now packing baby! Fast turn around, be encouraged those who are still waiting.
Mailed the application on December 28th, 2015
Check cleared December 31st, 2015
Mailed to me on the 10th of February 2016
Just a FYI for everyone filing, even though I explained to all my references why I was applying (protection of myself and my family), one still checked no, that I hadn't told him why I was applying, and another said my reason was "peace of mind". I submitted them as is, wasn't too worried about it. So take that for what it's worth, it certainly didn't hold up anything for me.
I figured with the New Year holiday in there and the renewal apps flowing in that it would be March at the earliest, so this was a pleasant surprise, but it did fall into the 7 week time frame a local gun shop owner said that he had been seeing in NCC over the last few months. He encouraged me to apply back in December because the turnaround times have been much faster than they had been.
Time to put my springfield XDM 3.8 compact into my Stealthgear Onyx IWB holster and begin carrying.