The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department addressed concealed carry permit processing delays after facing a lawsuit from the Department of Justice. The lawsuit alleged thousands of applications were left pending, leading to wait times of nearly three years for some applicants.
Federal officials announced that LASD is now adhering to California’s permit processing deadlines. The department improved its system by adding personnel and new software, which prompted the DOJ to drop the lawsuit. This marks a significant outcome for Second Amendment rights advocates in Los Angeles County.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division stated, “The sheriff acknowledged the problem and devoted substantial resources, including new processing software and additional personnel, to cutting waiting times dramatically.”
The lawsuit, filed in September 2025, claimed that it took applicants an average of over nine months to receive decisions on their permits. The DOJ argued this delay was a violation of applicants’ constitutional rights under the Second Amendment.
In response, LASD dramatically reduced waiting periods and now complies with the state’s statutory deadlines, providing initial approval or denial within 90 days as required by California law.
The settlement also concluded a larger DOJ investigation into whether the sheriff’s department had been effectively denying residents their right to bear arms through excessive delays. Between January 2024 and March 2025, LASD received nearly 4,000 applications, yet approved just two by May 2025.
Attorney General Pam Bondi commented at the time of the lawsuit, “The Second Amendment protects the fundamental constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms. Los Angeles County may not like that right, but the Constitution does not allow them to infringe upon it.”
Aside from the DOJ’s lawsuit, the California Rifle & Pistol Association and other gun rights groups also filed related litigation. Their efforts led to changes in California’s laws, allowing non-residents to apply for permits.
The DOJ’s case was part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to enforce Second Amendment rights nationwide, establishing a dedicated Second Amendment Section in the Civil Rights Division.
Under the settlement agreement, LASD will keep measures ensuring fair and timely processing of concealed carry applications. Sheriff Robert Luna’s department has eliminated the backlog by investing in additional staff and technology.
The DOJ’s Second Amendment Section will continue to monitor and accept complaints related to gun rights violations by state or local governments.
Fox News reached out to LASD for comments but did not receive an immediate response. The report includes contributions from Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan.