The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) have settled a 2025 lawsuit alleging the department engaged in a pattern of delaying concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit applications. Under the agreement, the LASD will reduce permit processing times and publicly report application statistics, including the shortest, longest, and average processing durations, on its website over the next four years.
Sheriff Robert Luna’s office welcomed the resolution, stating in a prepared statement that the DOJ recognized improvements made to the application process. The LASD reported eliminating its backlog and transitioning from paper to digital applications in the past year. The department also established a 16-member Carry Conceal Unit and now publishes application statistics on its webpage.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said the settlement reflects the sheriff’s commitment to addressing delays. "The sheriff acknowledged the problem and devoted substantial additional resources, including new processing software and additional personnel, to cutting waiting times dramatically," Dhillon stated in a DOJ release.
Legal and Policy Context
The lawsuit, filed in September 2025, alleged the LASD’s delays in processing CCW permits violated applicants’ Second Amendment rights. The DOJ cited the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision, which affirmed a constitutional right to carry handguns in public for self-defense. The complaint claimed the LASD’s practices amounted to a "deliberate pattern of unconscionable delay" affecting thousands of applicants.
Under the settlement, the LASD agreed to comply with statutory deadlines and implement measures to ensure timely processing. The DOJ described the agreement as a "huge win for the residents of Los Angeles County and for the Second Amendment."
Public Reporting Requirements
The LASD will track and publish data on permit applications, including:
- Total number of applications received
- Processing times for each application
- Shortest, longest, and average processing durations
The department stated it would expand public reporting to include additional relevant information beyond current webpage statistics. The DOJ emphasized that the sheriff’s office had already made "significant strides" in improving efficiency.
Reactions and Statements
The LASD’s statement highlighted recent improvements, noting the elimination of backlogs and the adoption of digital processing. The DOJ’s release praised the sheriff’s proactive response, including the allocation of additional resources to address delays. Neither the DOJ nor the LASD provided further immediate comment beyond their prepared statements.
The settlement concludes litigation that accused the LASD of systemic delays in processing CCW permits, a practice the DOJ argued effectively denied applicants their constitutional rights through procedural obstruction rather than outright refusal.