US Department of Justice lawsuit against Glendale

The legal dispute between the US Department of Justice and the city of Glendale, California, centers on the city’s concealed-carry weapon (CCW) permit fees.

Initially, Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian addressed concerns regarding federal immigration enforcement, noting that the city lacks jurisdiction to intervene in federal operations. During this period, the Justice Department issued a notice to Glendale regarding its firearm permit fees, with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon setting a deadline of November 4 to negotiate a settlement to avoid litigation.

Following the expiration of that deadline, the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court. The complaint alleges that Glendale imposes exorbitant and abusive fees, totaling approximately $2,000 for first-time applicants when including mandatory costs for training, fingerprinting, and psychological evaluations. Federal prosecutors argue these costs, along with renewal fees of about $1,300, create an unreasonable financial burden. The DOJ contends the system violates the Second Amendment and contradicts the 2022 Bruen decision by using an arbitrary “may-issue” process that allows officials excessive discretion.