The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) has managed to reduce lengthy wait times for concealed carry permits. This change comes after a lawsuit from the Department of Justice (DOJ) claimed that many applications were stalled, leading some gun owners to wait almost three years. Following improvements in staffing and the implementation of new processing software, the DOJ announced that LASD is now compliant with California’s permit deadlines.
This development is significant given that, at the time, LASD found itself at the forefront of the Trump administration’s movement to enhance Second Amendment rights. The DOJ described the settlement as a “huge victory” for residents and gun owners in Los Angeles County.
The lawsuit, which the DOJ emphasized was the first of its kind, aimed to address what many saw as delays that effectively denied residents their constitutional right to bear arms. During the investigation, it was found that applicants were waiting over nine months, on average, for their permit decisions. Now, those wait times have been considerably cut down.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon remarked that the sheriff acknowledged the issue and allocated resources, including staff and technology, to rectify the situation significantly. “We commend their efforts and are pleased to successfully bring this case to a close!” she said.
The agreement concludes a legal battle that started in March 2025 when the DOJ began looking into delays and complaints about the processing of concealed carry applications by LASD. At that time, they pointed out instances where people faced wait times of around 18 months, which is quite concerning.
The investigation culminated in a federal lawsuit in September 2025, with DOJ claiming that out of nearly 4,000 applications since early 2024, just two had been approved by LASD as of May 2025. This brought attention to a broader pattern of delays that the DOJ argued deprived citizens of their rights.
Although LASD has made efforts to improve the situation, the complaint noted that around 2,768 applications remain pending, while another 1,210 have been withdrawn. The average wait time for applicants was reported to be around 281 days, with some experiences extending up to 1,030 days. According to California law, applicants should be informed whether they’re approved or denied within 90 days.
In the context of this larger conversation about Second Amendment rights, the federal lawsuit proceeded alongside various other legal actions against local regulations regarding concealed carry permits. This includes a preliminary injunction that allowed eligible non-residents to apply for permits, which has now been integrated into LASD’s application process.
With the settlement in place, LASD is planning to keep systems that ensure all applications are processed fairly and promptly. The DOJ praised Sheriff Robert Luna for his department’s efforts to address the backlog through better staffing and updated technology.
Furthermore, the DOJ continues to welcome complaints from individuals who feel their Second Amendment rights are being infringed upon by state or local agencies. This ongoing dialogue suggests that while progress has been made, the conversation surrounding gun rights and regulations is far from over.
