LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), accusing the agency of deliberately obstructing access to concealed carry weapons (CCW) permits, NBC Los Angeles reported.
The suit comes after what the DOJ described as “numerous complaints” from applicants who experienced unexplained delays or never received responses, according to the report. A federal review of more than 8,000 CCW applications revealed that only two permits were approved, according to the DOJ.
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“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.”
DOJ investigation and lawsuit
The DOJ began investigating shortly after Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon took office in April. The sheriff’s department was notified of the probe and, two months later, provided the requested documents and data, according to the report.
The lawsuit alleges that LASD maintained a pattern of systemic delays and bureaucratic barriers, preventing otherwise eligible individuals from exercising their right to carry firearms for personal protection.
LASD response: Backlog, staffing and system transition
In a statement, the LASD stated it “respects the Second Amendment” and processes all applications “in compliance with state and local laws.”
The agency acknowledged that it had been transitioning from a paper-based to a digital system during the period in question, which contributed to processing delays. Sheriff Robert Luna, who took office in December 2022, reportedly inherited a backlog of about 10,000 applications, which the department says has now been reduced to approximately 3,200.
Over 19,000 CCW permits have been approved since 2020, according to the sheriff’s office statement. More than 5,000 permits, including 2,722 new applications, were approved in 2025.
Only 13 personnel were assigned to handle CCW applications, contributing to slowdowns, according to the statement.
Additional help from reserve deputies and temporary staffing was brought in to reduce the backlog.
“We remain committed to addressing all applications fairly, promptly and with a balanced approach,” the department said. “We are confident a fair and impartial review will show that the Department has not engaged in any pattern or practice of depriving individuals of their Second Amendment rights.”
