The Justice Department announced Thursday that it will begin an investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office into possible violations of the second amendment.
The investigation will consider whether the Sheriff’s Office denied Californian gun rights with “high fees and long waits” on permits.
DOJ cited the case in federal court. There, two civilian plaintiffs challenged the 18-month delay imposed by LASD when processing concealed handgun license applications. The department added that it believes there may be more residents in Los Angeles County experiencing similar delays.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, staffing crisis is responsible for the delays.
In a statement, the Sheriff’s Office wrote:
“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office respects the second amendment, which ensures public safety while ensuring the right to maintain and endure individual weapons and maintain the constitutional rights of all citizens. It currently approves 15,000 CCW applications.
Federal authorities also challenged the California Legislature, saying the state has enacted new laws to “further limit the ability of ordinary law-abiding Californians to maintain and withstand weapons.”
“This Department of Justice will not stand vaguely while states and regions violate the second amendment rights of ordinary Americans who comply with ordinary laws,” Attorney General Pamela Bondy said. “The second amendment is not a second-rate right. Under my watch, the department will actively enforce the second amendment, just as it actively enforces other fundamental constitutional rights.”
Bondi added that the survey was the first of many.
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