The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), accusing it of violating the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens seeking to carry concealed weapons. The complaint alleges that LASD delayed processing thousands of concealed carry weapon permit applications, effectively denying residents their constitutional right to bear arms.

According to the Justice Department, LASD approved only two concealed carry permits out of over 8,000 applications submitted within 15 months, with some applicants awaiting interviews for as long as two years. The lawsuit states that the department’s “systematic denial” of permits constitutes a “deliberate pattern of unconscionable delay,” rendering the Second Amendment meaningless for residents in high-crime areas.

The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division emphasized that the right to bear arms is not a privilege but a fundamental constitutional guarantee. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated, “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 filing also highlights that LASD takes an average of 281 days to begin processing applications, violating a California law requiring initial reviews within 90 days.

The case, filed in the Central District of California, demands a permanent injunction compelling LASD to issue concealed carry licenses promptly under state law. Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a vocal advocate for gun control, has pledged to advance stricter regulations despite recent legal challenges. A federal appeals court recently blocked a state law banning firearms in public spaces, citing Second Amendment violations. The dispute underscores ongoing tensions over gun rights and regulatory authority in the state.