DOJ Sues LA County Sheriff’s Department for Purposefully Delaying Concealed Carry Permit Applications

The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit Tuesday against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, alleging violations of citizens’ Second Amendment rights and becoming the first suit filed by the DOJ in support of gun owners.

On March 27, the DOJ began a Second Amendment investigation after receiving numerous complaints of unreasonable delays in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department related to concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit applications. The investigation, conducted jointly by the Civil Rights Division and Assistant US Attorneys from the Central District of California, reviewed nearly 8,000 CCW permit applications before filing suit.

According to the complaint, some applications have been pending for more than two years. Only two permits were issued between January 2024 and March 2025.

Currently, 2,768 applications for new licenses are still pending, with interviews scheduled as late as November 2026. The DOJ cited 2022 Supreme Court case New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, arguing the court made clear that “the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home.”

Acting US Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California addressed the suit, stating “the right to bear arms is among the founding principles of our nation. It can and must be upheld.” The LA County Sheriff’s Department has not issued a statement on the matter. [MORE]