The U.S. Department of Justice is taking a stand for gun rights in an unexpected arena: It has filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, marking a first-of-its-kind affirmative action supporting gun owners seeking concealed carry permits. The Civil Rights Division claims that there are excessive delays in the processing of applications for these permits, which infringe upon the constitutional rights of the applicants. According to the Department of Justice, these delays violate the Second Amendment's guarantee that law-abiding citizens will have the right to bear arms.
The complaint details that of over 8,000 applications examined, a startlingly low figure of only two were approved. Furthermore, the Sheriff's Department has been accused of scheduling interviews for potential license approvals up to two years after the application submission, a considerable deviation from California's statutory requirements, which demand a response within 90 days.
However, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has yet to comment on these allegations. In contrast, California Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to push for stricter gun control measures, setting the state's direction against the current trajectory of this lawsuit. Newsom's efforts arise despite recent legal setbacks in which federal courts have struck down or blocked state laws that attempted to limit gun rights in an ongoing tug-of-war between state regulation and constitutional protections.
As reported by the Associated Press, an average wait of 281 days to start processing the applications starkly contrasts with California law's 90-day stipulation for initial reviews. This discrepancy, the Justice Department insists, necessitates a permanent injunction requiring the sheriff's department to rectify its procedures and comply with both state and federal legal standards for issuing concealed carry licenses more expediently.
For those caught in the bureaucratic limbo of long-waiting permit processing, the Department of Justice is actively seeking input and acknowledges the potential detriment to citizens, particularly in high-crime areas, who seek the means to protect themselves. Applicants facing delays are encouraged to email their concerns to the specialized inbox of [email protected], which is actively monitored by attorneys tasked with safeguarding Second Amendment rights.
