US Department of Justice sues Glendale over concealed carry permit fees

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the city of Glendale, California, alleging that the city imposes exorbitant and abusive fees for concealed carry weapon (CCW) permits. According to the complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court, the total cost for a first-time applicant reaches approximately $2,000 when combining the initial $1,078 application fee with mandatory costs for fingerprinting, training, and psychological evaluations.

Federal prosecutors argue that renewal fees, which total about $1,300 for a two-year permit, constitute an unreasonable financial burden on residents. The DOJ contends that these costs, alongside an arbitrary “may-issue” process, violate the Second Amendment and contradict the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision. The lawsuit claims the current system allows officials to use discretion rather than objective requirements, effectively denying citizens their right to public carry.

In comparison, the DOJ noted that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department charges roughly $175 for a first-time permit, while the Los Angeles Police Department charges approximately $325, excluding additional training and fingerprinting costs.