DOJ Sues Glendale Over $1,000 Concealed Carry Permit Fees
DOJ files lawsuit against Glendale for high concealed carry permit fees, citing Second Amendment violations.
3 min read
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the city of Glendale, California, over its high concealed carry permit fees, which the agency claims violate residents’ Second Amendment rights. The DOJ alleges that the total cost for obtaining an initial permit exceeds $2,000, including fees for fingerprinting, training, and psychological evaluations, with additional costs for renewal every two years.
According to the DOJ’s complaint, Glendale charges $1,078 for an initial concealed carry permit (CCW) application, which is already above the $1,000 threshold. The total cost, however, includes additional fees for fingerprinting and the Live Scan requirement, which becomes effective in September 2026. The DOJ also noted that the city may require a psychological evaluation for renewal, which adds to the overall expense.
“When all of the fees and costs are aggregated, the total cost of obtaining an initial CCW application is approximately $2,000,” the DOJ stated. “This amount does not include additional provider ‘Rolling Fees’ for fingerprinting. The total cost for a renewal application is approximately $1,300. Renewed licenses in Glendale are valid for only two years. Thus, the approximately $1,300 fee must be paid every two years indefinitely.”
Glendale apparently raised its CCW application fees dramatically, now $1,078 for new permits, and $828 for renewals. When you factor in the training course, livescan, and psych exam, they are now even higher than Santa Clara. https://t.co/3fXB1G9wk5
The DOJ further argued that the fees are unreasonable and constitute a violation of constitutional rights. “The City of Glendale cannot impose unreasonable fees and unbridled discretion that undermines that core constitutional right,” said acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Jesus Osete.
DOJ officials initially sent a letter to Glendale on October 28, expressing a willingness to resolve the issue without litigation. However, the city’s law enforcement officers continued to enforce the licensing scheme, prompting the DOJ to file the lawsuit. “Glendale’s law enforcement officers are required to enforce this abusive licensing scheme, and they are doing so,” wrote then-Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon. “This letter is to inform you that as the Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division, I have authorized the filing of a complaint in federal district court against the City.”
The complaint alleges that the city’s CCW application scheme denies residents their Second Amendment right to public carry and that the Glendale Police Department’s enforcement is a pattern of law enforcement misconduct. The DOJ also highlighted that the Supreme Court has previously ruled that even “shall issue” laws regarding concealed carry permits can face constitutional challenges if they impose excessive costs or delays.
Associate Justice Clarence Thomas noted in a footnote of the opinion he wrote in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen that permitting schemes could be scrutinized for abusive ends. “Because any permitting scheme can be put toward abusive ends, we do not rule out constitutional challenges to shall-issue regimes where, for example, lengthy wait times in processing license applications or exorbitant fees deny ordinary citizens their right to public carry,” Thomas wrote.
Source: Daily Caller
