The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), alleging it violated the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens seeking to carry concealed weapons. The complaint claims LASD delayed granting concealed carry permits to thousands of applicants, with some facing wait times of up to two years for interviews.
According to the Justice Department, the LASD approved only two concealed carry weapons permits out of more than 8,000 applications over 15 months. The lawsuit argues that the department’s “deliberate pattern of unconscionable delay” rendered the constitutional right to bear arms meaningless in practice.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “The Second Amendment protects the fundamental constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms. Los Angeles County may not like that right, but the Constitution does not allow them to infringe upon it.” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon added, “This lawsuit seeks to stop Los Angeles County’s egregious pattern and practice of delaying law-abiding citizens from exercising their right to bear arms.”
The DOJ cited a California law requiring initial reviews of applications within 90 days, noting the LASD averaged 281 days to begin processing. The lawsuit requests a permanent injunction to ensure timely issuance of concealed carry licenses.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a vocal advocate for gun control, has pushed for stricter regulations. However, a federal appeals court recently blocked a state law banning firearms in most public places, citing Second Amendment violations. The case remains under appeal.
