The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for unreasonably slow processing of concealed carry weapon licenses.
The DOJ claims these delays violate California residents’ Second Amendment right to bear arms outside the home.
The big picture: Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the constitutional protection of law-abiding citizens to bear arms and criticized LA County for infringing upon that right.
- According to DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, the sheriff’s department took an average of 281 days to begin processing applications, violating California law that requires initial reviews within 90 days.
Driving the news: The lawsuit revealed that out of more than 8,000 applications, only two approvals were issued, and license approvals were scheduled up to two years after application completion.
- The DOJ began examining concealed carry permit applications in Los Angeles County starting in March 2025.
What we’re watching: The complaint seeks a permanent injunction to force the sheriff’s department to comply with timely issuance of concealed carry licenses lawfully.
