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Trump administration sues LA County Sheriff over wait times for concealed carry weapon permits
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department over concealed carry permit wait times.
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Eric Lee
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Getty Images
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The Department of Justice on Tuesday sued the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department over the wait times to get a concealed carry permit. The lawsuit accuses the department of infringing on applicants' Second Amendment rights through delay tactics.
The lawsuit alleges that the Sheriff’s Department has only approved two out of nearly 8,000 applications for concealed carry permits. The suit does not specify the specific date range of the requests.
“Defendants force applicants to wait an average of 281 days — over nine months — just to begin processing their applications, with some waiting as long as 1,030 days (nearly three years),” the lawsuit states.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.
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The DOJ demands
The Department of Justice — which says "the scope of this constitutional violation is staggering" — is asking the court to declare that the Sheriff’s Department is engaging in “excessive” delays and low approval rates.
Federal officials are seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting the Sheriff’s Department from implementing state law and regulations regarding concealed weapons on the grounds that that they violate the right to bear arms.
“The Second Amendment protects the fundamental constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. “Los Angeles County may not like that right, but the Constitution does not allow them to infringe upon it.”
Read the lawsuit
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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