Staff Reports
California’s gun rights landscape is witnessing a historic shift after the U.S. Department of Justice, led by Assistant Attorney General Har Dylan, launched a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. For years, law-abiding citizens in Los Angeles have been subjected to bureaucratic blockades when seeking concealed carry permits, denied not by statute but by excuse and delay. The DOJ’s decision to intervene marks the first time the federal government has used its weight to defend individual gun rights against local government efforts to subvert the Second Amendment.
The numbers say it all: out of nearly 4,000 concealed carry applications between January 2024 and March 2025, only two were granted. Such a disgraceful approval rate amounts to an undeclared gun ban, putting countless citizens at risk while ignoring rising crime and threats to personal safety. Instead of responsibly processing requests within the law’s 90-day mandate, Sheriff Robert Luna’s office allegedly dragged its feet for up to ten months or more. These delays are not just bureaucratic mismanagement—they are a calculated effort to silence gun rights and strip responsible Californians of their ability to defend themselves.
What makes this case especially powerful is the Supreme Court’s clear directive in the Bruen decision, confirming an individual’s right to carry a firearm for self-defense beyond their home. The DOJ’s lawsuit directly addresses Los Angeles’s flagrant disregard for this precedent, as well as for the state’s own legal obligations. It’s no stretch to say the actions of the Sheriff’s Department have undermined both state law and the Constitution, endangering innocent people who simply want to exercise their rights.
In taking this stand, the Department of Justice is not just fighting for the residents of Los Angeles—it is setting the stage for national change. Gun owners and Second Amendment supporters across the country have grown tired of being treated as criminals by their own governments, and this lawsuit signals a long-overdue awakening. If the courts force accountability here, bureaucrats in other anti-gun jurisdictions will be put on notice: delay tactics and loophole games cannot stand against the rule of law.
Still, gun rights supporters know well that the battle won today does not guarantee victory tomorrow. The anti-gun lobby is relentless, and politicians often use every conceivable angle to restrict individuals’ freedoms. While this DOJ lawsuit is a milestone, vigilance remains absolutely necessary to preserve and expand the rights enshrined in the Second Amendment. This moment demands action—citizens must stay informed, keep up the pressure, and refuse to back down until their rights are honored not just in law, but in practice, nationwide.
