The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken a decisive step to protect the constitutional rights of Los Angeles County residents by filing a lawsuit against the county's sheriff's department. The legal action, lodged in the Federal Central District of California, accuses the law enforcement agency of systematically violating the Second Amendment rights of citizens by significantly delaying concealed carry weapon (CCW) applications.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the gravity of the lawsuit. "The Second Amendment protects the fundamental constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms," Bondi stated. "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 federal probe that led to the lawsuit began on March 27, following numerous complaints from residents alleging their CCW applications were either ignored or faced unreasonable delays, with some waiting close to two years. This period far exceeds California's statutory 90-day deadline for processing such applications and potentially violates recent Supreme Court rulings that affirm the right to carry firearms.
Nearly two months after the investigation commenced, DOJ officials revealed alarming statistics: out of more than 8,000 applications, a mere two had been approved. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division, expressed the DOJ's objective: "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 practical implications of these delays are significant, especially for residents in high-crime areas. Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli highlighted the urgency of the matter, stating, "Citizens living in high-crime areas cannot afford to wait to protect themselves with firearms while Los Angeles County dithers. The right to bear arms is among the founding principles of our nation. It can and must be upheld."
In response to the lawsuit, the sheriff's department acknowledged the backlog but pointed to recent improvements. Spokesperson Nicole Nishida mentioned that the transition to an online platform in May 2023 has helped reduce a backlog of 10,000 applications to approximately 3,200. She also noted that staffing shortages have been a challenge, but the department plans to coordinate with the county to bring in additional personnel.
Despite the department's efforts, which include issuing over 19,000 permits since 2020, the DOJ complaint states that the department still averages 281 days before starting to process applications. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to ensure prompt processing of all CCW permits in compliance with state law.
This case marks an unprecedented move by the federal government to enforce Second Amendment rights, potentially setting a national precedent for federal involvement in upholding constitutional gun rights. As the legal proceedings unfold, gun rights advocates and residents await the sheriff's department's compliance with federal directives to expedite the issuance of concealed carry permits. The DOJ has committed to ongoing oversight to prevent further neglect of constitutional protections.
In a recent tweet, the National Rifle Association (NRA) highlighted the lawsuit, underscoring the importance of holding the sheriff's department accountable for its actions.
