Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division Files First Lawsuit in Support of Gun Owners Seeking Concealed Weapons Permits

LOS ANGELES - In the first affirmative lawsuit in support of gun owners, the Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) alleging a pattern and practice of infringing the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens seeking concealed carry weapons (CCW) permits.

The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division on March 27, 2025, initiated the first-of-its-kind Second Amendment investigation because of numerous complaints of unreasonable delays in CCW permitting decisions by LASD. After analysis of data and documents spanning more than 8,000 CCW permits, the Division today filed suit seeking relief on behalf of law-abiding applicants.

"Citizens living in high-crime areas cannot afford to wait to protect themselves with firearms while Los Angeles County dithers," said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli. "The right to bear arms is among the founding principles of our nation. It can and must be upheld."

"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."

Shortly after Assistant Attorney Harmeet K. Dhillon was sworn in to lead the Civil Rights Division, numerous complaints received by the Division revealed inexplicable delays well beyond California statutory requirements and in violation of the U.S. Supreme Court's interpretation of the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

Almost two months after receiving notice of the Division's investigation, LASD provided data and documents that revealed only two approvals from more than 8,000 applications, and that LASD set out interviews to approve licenses as far as two years after receiving the completed application. The lawsuit was filed in United States District Court for the Central District of California.

This investigation was conducted by attorneys at the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys within the Central District of California's U.S. Attorney Office.

If you or someone you know has applied for a concealed carry permit in Los Angeles or any jurisdiction within the United States and have not received a reply or decision within four months after applying, please email [email protected]. The mailbox is actively monitored by attorneys assigned to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.