News Summary
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, citing violations of Second Amendment rights related to the concealed carry weapons permit process. The DOJ alleges significant delays and a low approval rate of permit applications, raising concerns about the LASD’s practices. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to ensure timely processing of concealed carry licenses, reflecting broader debates over gun control in California.
Los Angeles, California – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), citing violations of Second Amendment rights concerning the concealed carry weapons permit process. The lawsuit was filed in the Central District of California on a Tuesday and has garnered significant attention amid ongoing debates about gun control and rights in the state.
The DOJ alleges that during a 15-month period, the LASD only approved two concealed carry permits out of more than 8,000 applications. This steeply low approval rate raises serious concerns about the LASD’s practices regarding the evaluation of permit requests. The department has come under scrutiny for causing significant delays in processing applications, with some applicants reporting interviews scheduled as far out as two years after their initial submission.
According to the DOJ, these extensive delays demonstrate a systematic denial of the right to bear arms outside the home, as outlined in the Second Amendment. The lawsuit claims that the apparent delays reflect a deliberate pattern of obstruction from the LASD, rendering these constitutional rights “meaningless in practice.” Evidence presented in the complaint highlights that, on average, the LASD takes approximately 281 days just to commence processing applications, which is well beyond California’s legal requirement for initial reviews to be conducted within 90 days.
The legal action comes after an investigation by the DOJ, which began in March after receiving numerous complaints about the LASD’s handling of the concealed carry permit process. From January 2024 to March 2025, the LASD had received 3,982 new applications, but only two were approved by May 8. Furthermore, around 2,768 applications reportedly remained in limbo, with some interviews not scheduled until late 2026.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has emerged as a proponent of stricter gun control laws, a position that contrasts with the concerns raised by the DOJ regarding the LASD’s management of permit applications. The lawsuit from the DOJ aligns with broader legal confrontations initiated by the Trump administration against various Californian policies, establishing a contentious climate concerning gun rights and regulations in the state.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the importance of the Second Amendment in her statements, asserting it protects law-abiding citizens’ rights to bear arms and that no county should infringe upon this right. The complaint contends that the LASD’s prolonged processes exhibit an “egregious pattern and practice” that prevents lawful citizens from exercising their rights effectively.
As a result of these findings, the DOJ is seeking a permanent injunction that would mandate the LASD to issue concealed carry licenses in a timely manner moving forward. In response to the lawsuit, the LASD and the mayor’s office have not offered immediate comments or reactions to the claims made by the DOJ.
In its defense, the sheriff’s department has argued that it is processing applications in accordance with state law and noted that it had approved over 19,000 concealed carry weapon (CCW) applications since 2020. The department also mentioned inheriting a significant backlog when Sheriff Robert Luna took office and cited staffing shortages as a contributing factor to ongoing delays in the application process. Despite these challenges, the LASD maintains its commitment to the fair and efficient processing of CCW applications, even amid staffing difficulties.
This lawsuit signifies a crucial turning point in the ongoing discussions about gun rights and regulation within California, forcing both state authorities and law enforcement agencies to reevaluate their practices regarding concealed carry permits.
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Additional Resources
- ABC News
- Wikipedia: Second Amendment
- Politico
- Google Search: Los Angeles Sheriff Department Second Amendment
- Fox News
- Google Scholar: U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit Los Angeles
- NBC Los Angeles
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Second Amendment
- LAist
- Google News: LA County Sheriff Department lawsuit
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LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER The LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELosAngeles.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and beyond, specializing in "news you can use" with coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while delivering top reporting on high-value events like the Academy Awards, LA Auto Show, and Los Angeles Marathon, extending coverage to key organizations such as the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, plus leading businesses in entertainment and technology like Warner Bros. and SpaceX, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREAnaheim.com , HERECostaMesa.com , HEREHuntingtonBeach.com , and HERESantaAna.com , providing comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape. HERE Anaheim HERE Beverly Hills HERE Coronado HERE Costa Mesa HERE Hollywood HERE Huntington Beach HERE Long Beach HERE Los Angeles HERE Mission Viejo HERE San Diego HERE Santa Ana
