Investigation Launched into Philadelphia Police Department

On June 9, 2026, the Justice Department under President Trump initiated an investigation into the Philadelphia Police Department regarding its potential use of “vague personal discretion” in revoking certain concealed carry permits.

Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, remarked, “Police cannot revoke a concealed carry permit based on arbitrary judgment from the licensing authority. Today, I was the director for [the Civil Rights Division’s] review of how the Philadelphia Police Department strips individuals of their CCWs for legally carrying firearms in public.”

The Justice Department also stated, “Today, we started an investigation to assess whether the Philadelphia Police Department applies an ambiguous ‘good cause’ standard to revoke lawful firearms licenses.”

In the announcement, the Justice Department noted:

The use of vague personal discretion by government officials in issuing or revoking firearms permits is a violation of the Second Amendment. In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in District of Columbia v. Heller affirmed that the Second Amendment protects law-abiding citizens’ rights to possess weapons typically used for lawful purposes. A subsequent 2022 ruling clarified that licensing authorities cannot base their decisions solely on personal judgment. Allegations suggest that the Philadelphia Police Department employs such discretionary standards, which may unreasonably restrict Second Amendment rights.

A letter from the Department of Justice, dated June 9, 2026, was sent to Philadelphia Mayor Sherrell Parker, also shared with Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel, outlining the ongoing investigation.