The @CivilRights Division Files the First Department of Justice Affirmative Lawsuit in Support of Gun Owners
“The Second Amendment protects the fundamental constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms,” said @AGPamBondi. “Los Angeles County may not like that… pic.twitter.com/Zjs2lJlzfc
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) September 30, 2025
Today, the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit in the Federal Central District of California Court against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and Sheriff Robert Luna due to multiple delays in issuing concealed carry permits.
This lawsuit is the first affirmative lawsuit in support of gun owners filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division initiated an investigation into the LASD in March of 2025 due to multiple complaints filed with the Division regarding what citizens perceived as unreasonable delays in the Department’s decisions on concealed carry permit applications. Some of the delays lasted over two years.
“The Second Amendment protects the fundamental constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Los Angeles County may not like that right, but the Constitution does not allow them to infringe upon it. This Department of Justice will continue to fight for the Second Amendment.”
“The Second Amendment is not a second-class right,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “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.”
“Citizens living in high-crime areas cannot afford to wait to protect themselves with firearms while Los Angeles County dithers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “The right to bear arms is among the founding principles of our nation. It can and must be upheld.”
“CRPA and our allies blazed a trail over the past three years, going county-by-county across California to ensure Bruen-compliant CCW processes,” explained CRPA President & General Counsel Chuck Michel. “Stubborn jurisdictions, such as Los Angeles, dug in their heels with delays, fees, and new requirements to keep lawful citizens from securing CCW’s. We are thrilled that the Trump Administration finds this abuse as egregious as we do.”
The LASD has received over 8000 applications for concealed carry permits between January 2024 and March 2025, but it has only processed two approvals. The LASD requires an in-person interview for approval. These interviews are scheduled on average two years after the application is complete. The DOJ is claiming that these delays are unreasonable and violate Americans’ right to keep and bear arms outside the home as affirmed under the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision.
The Justice Department claims these administrative delays are a coordinated effort by the LASD to nullify, through bureaucratic obstruction, the results of Bruen. According to the Civil Rights Division, when a constitutional right is deliberately delayed beyond a reasonable timeframe, it is effectively denied.
Under California law, an issuing agency must give an initial determination on whether a permit will be granted within 90 days. The LASD doesn’t consider an application completed until the in-person interview, effectively creating an artificial roadblock for anyone looking to get or renew a concealed carry permit. Some of the interviews were scheduled for 1,030 days after the Sheriff’s Department received the application.
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is asking for the courts to issue a declaration that the LASD’s “pattern and practice of subjecting law-abiding applicants for concealed carry weapon permits to excessive delays violates the Second Amendment as incorporated by the Fourteenth Amendment.” They are also asking the courts to issue a similar declaration because of the lack of permits issued by the Sheriff’s Department between January 2024 and March 2025.
The DOJ wants the judge in the case to issue a permanent injunction against the LASD from implementing California law and regulations governing the issuance of concealed carry licenses in an unconstitutional manner, such as a delayed permitting scheme that involves bureaucratic obstruction.
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About John Crump
Mr. Crump is an NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people from all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons, follow him on X at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
So when does the DOJ go after the states that have enacted illegal bans on common sporting rifles and standard capacity magazines? Basically the same argument can be made.
Now do NY, please!
Trumps DOJ will force the scumbags into compliance. Easy way or the hard way!
well the last time i checked the 2nd amendment didn’t say anything about having to get a permit to carry a firearm ,this BS has been said for years like to have to get a permit to carry. that’s called infringing on that right. If people would stand up for your rights this wouldn’t be taking place. So think about that when you go to get a permit for something you don’t need one for in the first place, shall not be infringed!
This is great. Finally, a president who respects the US Constitution!
In los angeles it is not the LASD that as big of a problem as the LAPD and local PD like Torrance. If denied by the local PD apply to LASD.
More importantly DOJ needs to go after the Commiefornia approved gun roster, standard mag restrictions, 1 gun/month, excize tax on guns and ammo, ban on MSRs or “featureless” sporting rifles.
Good! Make this just the start!
Plan Blondi ain’t our Great White Hope. Trump should have stuck up for Gaetz harder.
Regardless of the outcome of this suit, LASD and California government in general will do whatever it pleases because there are no repercussions.
wish the admin / doj would stop being so schizophrenic and just take our side across the board. shall not be infringed and all that