California gun owners are running out of patience. According to Michael Schwartz, host of Gun Owners Radio, thousands of residents are reporting delays well beyond the 90-day timeline promised for their Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) permit approvals. What used to be a predictable process has now become a waiting game with no end in sight. And the problem? It’s not your local sheriff. It’s Sacramento.
The Fingerprints Hit a Roadblock in Sacramento
Once a CCW applicant completes their interview and gets fingerprinted, the package goes to the California Department of Justice (DOJ). That’s where the bottleneck begins. Schwartz explains that although sheriff’s departments are submitting applications promptly, often the very next day, it’s the DOJ’s internal licensing division that is holding up the approvals. And it’s not just for gun owners. The same department handles background checks for new police hires, too. But they’re severely understaffed.
The DOJ Is Understaffed – and Apparently Unbothered
On Gun Owners Radio, Schwartz didn’t mince words: “Guess how motivated Sacramento is to staff up that section? They’re not.” With more Californians than ever applying for CCWs – especially in big cities like Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego – Schwartz says the state government seems uninterested in keeping up. He points out the political tension: “They hate the fact that you get to have a CCW and that you own a gun.”
Applicants Are Left in Limbo
The delay is not just inconvenient – it’s putting people in legal and personal limbo. As Schwartz describes, applicants are often left wondering whether their paperwork got lost or if they did something wrong. “I’m seeing more and more people go past 90 days without their approval letters,” he says. This uncertainty only adds to the frustration and anxiety for citizens who’ve done everything by the book.
What the Law Actually Says
According to research shared by Schwartz’s team, particularly from the law firm Michel & Associates, the law gives the issuing authority (like your sheriff) 90 days from the date of fingerprint submission to process the application, and then an additional 30 days after receiving DOJ results to notify the applicant. But here’s the catch: that timeline applies only to the local issuing agencies. The DOJ itself? Apparently, no timeline holds them accountable.
Other States Handle This in Days, Not Months
The slow pace is especially frustrating when compared to other states. Schwartz notes that in places outside California, the same process takes anywhere from one to five days. “It’s doable,” he insists. “It’s not like this is some big mystery. The California DOJ could get it together and return these faster.” In other words, the delay is a choice, not a necessity – and that makes it even worse.
DOJ Blames Staffing, but Critics Call It Politics
While Sacramento might cite staffing shortages as the excuse, Schwartz and many others believe the problem is political at its core. The civil rights implications are serious. “This is a civil right,” says Schwartz, echoing the words of Harmeet Dhillon, an attorney in the DOJ’s civil rights division under the Trump administration. She, too, has criticized the state’s sluggish pace, especially when it restricts a constitutional right.
Harmeet Dhillon Is Watching the Case Closely
Harmeet Dhillon, a former vice chair of the California Republican Party and current civil rights advocate, has voiced concern over the state’s failure to meet basic timelines for a constitutionally protected process. Schwartz praises her involvement, noting her background as an immigrant and her family’s early experiences with the need for self-defense. “She’s the real deal,” he said. “She gets why the Second Amendment matters.”
Political Indifference in Sacramento
One of the most damning points Schwartz raises is the sheer lack of political will to solve the problem. With so many people in Sacramento openly opposed to civilian gun ownership, there’s no rush to make the process more efficient. In fact, some Second Amendment advocates suspect the delay might be intentional – to discourage applicants and slow the growth of legal gun ownership. “They’re just not motivated,” Schwartz says bluntly.
What Can You Do If You’re Stuck Waiting?
Unfortunately, options are limited. Schwartz recommends that applicants email the DOJ for status updates rather than calling. “They’re much better at responding to emails,” he says. While that may not speed things up, it can at least give applicants some peace of mind. He also mentioned that he’s bringing the issue to the attention of state lawmakers, hoping to apply pressure from the inside.
Applicants Deserve Transparency and Accountability
This isn’t just about bureaucracy – it’s about the right to bear arms being delayed without explanation. As more people in California decide to legally carry firearms for protection, the state’s slow processing undermines the very idea of lawful gun ownership. Schwartz believes the people of California deserve better. “If they’re going to take on the responsibility to do all the background checks,” he said, “they should be held to a realistic time limit.”
A Delay Is Still a Denial
What strikes me about this whole situation is how it mirrors tactics used in other areas of civil rights suppression. The right to bear arms is protected under the Constitution, but if the government keeps delaying and stalling, that right becomes meaningless in practice. It’s like putting a velvet rope in front of a door labeled “Freedom.” You can see it. You just can’t get to it. California’s DOJ needs to be called out for this. A delay may not sound like a big deal to a bureaucrat in Sacramento, but for someone trying to protect their family in uncertain times, it absolutely is.
This Has to Change
As more gun owners come forward with delayed applications, it’s clear the current system isn’t working. And it’s not because of a technical failure – it’s a failure of leadership. As Gun Owners Radio and Michael Schwartz have shown, the numbers are climbing, the timelines are slipping, and the state government seems unmoved. If California wants to claim it respects civil rights, it can’t keep dragging its feet when it comes to the Second Amendment.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.