Filed Date: Sept. 30, 2025
Case Ongoing
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This lawsuit arose following a prior case, California Rifle and Pistol Association, Incorporated v. Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, as well as a Department of Justice Investigation into the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department regarding delays or other burdens in acquiring concealed handgun licenses.
On September 30, 2025, the United States filed a civil rights complaint against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Sheriff Robert Luna in his official capacity, alleging systematic deprivation of Second Amendment rights through deliberate delays in processing concealed carry license applications. The complaint alleged that between January 2024 and March 2025, LASD received 3,982 applications for new concealed carry licenses but approved only two—a 0.05% approval rate. The Department charged that applicants face an average wait of 281 days before LASD takes any action on their applications, with a median delay of 372 days and some applicants waiting up to 1,030 days (nearly three years).
These delays far exceed California's statutory requirement that licensing authorities provide initial determinations within 90 days. As of May 2025, approximately 1,210 applications have been withdrawn, and 2,768 applications remained pending, with interviews scheduled as late as November 2026. The United States contended that this constitutes a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives law-abiding individuals of their Second Amendment rights as incorporated through the Fourteenth Amendment, in violation of 34 U.S.C. § 12601. The government sought declaratory relief establishing that defendants' delays and approval practices violate the Second Amendment, as well as a permanent injunction prohibiting defendants from implementing California's concealed carry licensing regime in a manner that violates constitutional protections.
The case remains ongoing.
Summary Authors
Ben Hefter (7/29/2025)
Jack Buckfire (12/1/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71497550/parties/united-states-v-los-angeles-county-sheriffs-department/
Scarsi, Mark Christopher (California)
Hamill, Julie Ann (California)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71497550/united-states-v-los-angeles-county-sheriffs-department/
Last updated Dec. 31, 2025, 12:45 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 30, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States Department of Justice (Civil Rights Division)
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (Los Angeles), County
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act, 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 14141)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Second Amendment (Right to Bear Arms)
Other Dockets:
Central District of California 2:25-cv-09323
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.: