Settlement Reached in Lawsuit Over Concealed Carry Permit Delays in Los Angeles County
The U.S. Department of Justice and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have reached a settlement in a lawsuit concerning delays in processing applications for concealed carry permits. The DOJ alleged that the Sheriff’s Department was unreasonably delaying these applications, infringing on applicants’ constitutional rights. Following the lawsuit, the Sheriff’s Department has adjusted its procedures to align with the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision, significantly reducing waiting times and meeting statutory deadlines.
The DOJ hailed the settlement as a victory for the residents of Los Angeles County and Second Amendment rights. Assistant Atty. Gen. Harmeet K. Dhillon commended the Sheriff’s Department for addressing the issue by allocating additional resources to expedite the processing of concealed carry permit applications. The Sheriff’s Department has not yet commented on the settlement.
In its complaint, the DOJ accused the Sheriff’s Department of systematically delaying the processing of concealed carry permit applications, resulting in only a minimal number of permits being issued over a specific period. The department acknowledged the challenges it faced in managing the high volume of applications and highlighted efforts to reduce the backlog and improve processing times.
Sheriff Robert Luna, named as a defendant in the lawsuit, inherited a system that was struggling to handle the influx of concealed carry permit applications. Despite the challenges, the department has made progress in reducing the backlog and approving a significant number of applications since 2020. The settlement marks a significant step towards ensuring that law-abiding citizens can exercise their Second Amendment rights without undue delays.
Overall, the agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department represents a positive outcome for both parties and underscores the importance of upholding constitutional rights while ensuring efficient processing of concealed carry permit applications.