LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint in federal district court in Los Angeles in September alleging the Sheriff’s Department delayed concealed carry permit applications for unreasonable lengths of time. The Department of Justice described the settlement as a win for the residents of Los Angeles County and for the Second Amendment.

"The Justice Department supports our law enforcement partners," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said. "The sheriff acknowledged the problem and devoted substantial additional resources, including new processing software and additional personnel, to cutting waiting times dramatically."

Dhillon added, "We applaud their efforts and are happy to be able to bring this litigation to a successful conclusion!" The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated it welcomes the resolution and settlement of the matter. The department also stated it appreciates the U.S. Department of Justice’s recognition of the steps taken to improve the processing of firearm carry permit applications.

The Department of Justice complaint cited Sheriff’s Department data showing an average processing time of nearly 300 days for more than 8,000 new permit applications and renewals received over a 15-month period. Sheriff Robert Luna was listed by name as a defendant in the original federal complaint.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated in September that Sheriff Robert Luna inherited a system when he took office in 2022. The department stated it had only 13 people to manage concealed carry permit applications at that time. It stated it reduced the backlog of concealed carry license applications from about 10,000 to about 3,200 since December 2022.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s he stated in September that more than 19,000 concealed carry license applications had been successfully approved since 2020. The department stated it officially established a Carry Conceal Unit in the summer of 2025 staffed by 16 full-time personnel. The application process transitioned from a paper application to a fully automated process.

Why It Matters

The settlement resolves a federal lawsuit that challenged the pace of concealed carry permit issuance in Los Angeles County, aligning local procedures with the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision. The Department of Justice characterized the agreement as a victory for Second Amendment rights, while the Sheriff’s he noted operational reforms, including increased staffing and automation, that addressed a backlog inherited in 2022.

The case involved volume, with the Justice Department citing nearly 4,000 applications received and only two issued over a 15-month period ending in March 2025. The Sheriff’s Department reported reducing a backlog from approximately 10,000 to 3,200 applications and approving more than 19,000 licenses since 2020, demonstrating the scale of the administrative challenge and the subsequent corrective measures.

Timeline

In the summer of 2025, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s he stated it officially established a Carry Conceal Unit staffed by 16 full-time personnel. In September 2025, the department stated that Sheriff Robert Luna inherited a system when he took office in 2022 and that it had only 13 people to manage concealed carry permit applications at that time. Also in September 2025, the Department of Justice filed a complaint alleging that between Jan.

2, 2024, and March 31, 2025, the Sheriff’s Department received almost 4,000 applications for new concealed carry licenses but issued only two. The complaint cited data showing an average processing time of nearly 300 days for more than 8,000 new permit applications and renewals received over a 15-month period.

What's New

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s he stated it began publicly reporting statistics on concealed carry permits issued on its web page earlier in 2026. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. he stated, "We applaud their efforts and are happy to be able to bring this litigation to a successful conclusion!" The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s he stated the application process transitioned from a paper application to a fully automated process. The department stated it will expand public reporting to include total application processing times and other relevant information.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was established in 1850. PureSource News reported on May 20, 2026, that Bushart settled a lawsuit with Tennessee for $835,000. The Justice Department published a rule titled Definition of “Engaged in the Business” as a Dealer in Firearms on April 19, 2024. The Justice Department published a rule titled Definition of “Frame or Receiver” and Identification of Firearms on April 26, 2022.

How Sources Differ

Regarding the number of concealed carry licenses issued, the U.S. Department of Justice complaint alleged that between Jan. 2, 2024, and March 31, 2025, the Sheriff’s Department received almost 4,000 applications for new concealed carry licenses but issued only two. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s he stated it began publicly reporting statistics on concealed carry permits issued on its web page earlier in 2026.

Regarding the establishment of the agency, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s he stated it officially established a Carry Conceal Unit in the summer of 2025 staffed by 16 full-time personnel. Wikidata states the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was established in 1850.

Regarding department statements, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s he stated in September that more than 19,000 concealed carry license applications had been successfully approved since 2020. The department also stated the application process transitioned from a paper application to a fully automated process.

Regarding future reporting, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s he stated in September that more than 19,000 concealed carry license applications had been successfully approved since 2020. The department also stated it will expand public reporting to include total application processing times and other relevant information.

Regarding agency history, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s he stated in September that more than 19,000 concealed carry license applications had been successfully approved since 2020. Wikidata states the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was established in 1850.