Justice Department files lawsuit against Los Angeles County Sheriff in support of gun owners seeking permits
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) in support of gun owners seeking to get concealed carry weapons (CCW) permits, claiming "unreasonable delays" in permitting decisions.
The lawsuit alleges the sheriff's department infringed on the Second Amendment rights of citizens who were seeking to obtain CCW permits.
"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. "The right to bear arms is among the founding principles of our nation. It can and must be upheld."
According to the DOJ, the Civil Rights Division launched a "first-of-its-kind Second Amendment investigation" in March 2025 after receiving numerous complaints of delays in CCW permitting decisions by the LASD.
The Division claims that after two months out of more than 8,000 applications, only two were approved. According to the lawsuit, the LASD had "interviews scheduled as late as November 2026—more than two years after some applications were first submitted."
"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," Essayli's office said.
Following the Justice Department's lawsuit, the Sheriff's Department issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to processing CCW permits despite "significant staffing shortages." Deputies added that it has approved more than 19,000 CCW applications since 2020, with over 5,000 issued in 2025.
"We remain committed to addressing all applications fairly, promptly, and with a balanced approach," LASD wrote in a statement. "We are confident a fair and impartial review of our efforts will show that the Department has not engaged in any pattern or practice of depriving individuals of their Second Amendment rights."
The Sheriff's Department stated that it "faced a backlog of applications" prior to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in 2022 to strike down a New York law similar to California's statute, which required individuals to demonstrate a particular need or cause to obtain a CCW. Deputies said they faced a surge in applications following the decision that worsened the backlog.
"It is important to clarify that the LASD's CCW Unit has been issuing permits at a significantly increased rate, contrary to the statistics and information cited by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in its complaint," the department wrote in a statement.
Since December 2022, the department has cut its backlog of 10,000 applications to 3,200, according to LASD. Deputies added that when the DOJ began its investigation, they were in the early stages of transitioning from an outdated, paper-based system that required staff to input information manually.
"Despite these efforts, the fluctuating staffing levels remain inadequate," LASD wrote. "Currently, only 13 personnel are assigned to this unfunded mandate, and the Department continues to face a significant staffing crisis. The Department has been working closely with the LA County Chief Executive Office to secure appropriate funding to address staffing concerns for the CCW Unit."
The turnaround time for CCW applications varies greatly between law enforcement agencies. Locally, the Los Angeles Police Department places applicants on a waiting list, and processing time is dependent on the number of residents requesting officer interview appointments.
After that step, the review process takes at least two months after an applicant completes the required training and shooting proficiency forms.
Similarly, applicants in Orange County must wait roughly three months before their initial appointment, according to the National Rifle Association and California Pistol & Rifle Association. The two groups described the process as "long and arduous."
Smaller agencies process applications somewhat faster, with the Alhambra Police Department stating that it takes roughly one to four months to complete. According to the Beaumont Police Department, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department took at least 18 months to complete the process compared to the city's roughly two-month waiting period.