The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has reduced lengthy concealed carry permit delays after a lawsuit by the Department of Justice accused the agency of leaving thousands of applications in limbo.
According to federal officials, the sheriff's department is now meeting California's permitting deadlines, which require licensing authorities to provide applicants with an initial approval or denial within 90 days. The turnaround was prompted by the addition of personnel and new processing software, which has drastically reduced waiting times.
The Department of Justice had filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in September 2025, alleging that applicants were waiting an average of more than nine months to receive decisions on their permits. The case marked the first-ever affirmative lawsuit brought by the DOJ in support of gun owners' Second Amendment rights.
Under the settlement announced Thursday, the sheriff's department will maintain procedures designed to ensure concealed carry applications are processed under objective standards and without lengthy delays. The Department of Justice credited Sheriff Robert Luna's department with putting additional resources toward eliminating the backlog.
The case is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to use federal civil rights enforcement to protect Second Amendment rights. The Department of Justice said its Second Amendment Section will continue accepting complaints from current and prospective gun owners who believe state or local governments have infringed their right to keep or bear arms.
As a result of the settlement, the Department of Justice has ended its lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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