DOJ Opens Investigation Into California’s 2nd Amendment Infringements

In a move that’s already shaking up the national gun rights landscape, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an official investigation into the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The focus? Alleged violations of the Second Amendment.

Chad Mizelle, Chief of Staff to the DOJ under Attorney General Pam Bondi, broke the news on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the federal government is probing whether California officials have developed a “pattern or practice” of depriving law-abiding Americans of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

A First Step Toward National Reform?

This Los Angeles County investigation isn’t expected to stand alone. According to Mizelle, this is the “first investigation (of many, if need be)” that the DOJ is prepared to carry out. The DOJ is signaling that it’s ready to enforce the Second Amendment as actively as it would any other civil right. In a series of posts, Mizelle made it clear: the days of treating the Second Amendment as a second-class right are coming to an end – at least under the current administration.

Bondi Makes Her Position Clear

Attorney General Pam Bondi has echoed that same sentiment. In a statement highlighted by Copper Jacket TV’s host William, Bondi declared, “The Second Amendment is not a second-class right and under my watch, the department will actively enforce the Second Amendment just like it actively enforces other fundamental constitutional rights.” Her words are now backed by action, with the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division leading the charge. According to Bondi, more investigations may be on the horizon, not just in California, but in other restrictive states as well.

Delays That Deny

So what exactly triggered this investigation? Jared Yanis, host of gun rights YouTube channel Guns & Gadgets 2nd Amendment News, explained that the central issue is the “outrageous” delay in issuing concealed handgun licenses in Los Angeles County – delays reportedly lasting 18 months or more. These aren’t just inconvenient bureaucratic setbacks. According to Yanis and federal court findings, they amount to a denial of a constitutional right. “A right delayed is a right denied,” Yanis reminded viewers.

Supporting Evidence from the Courts

A federal court ruling recently sided with two California residents who were forced to wait over a year for concealed carry permits. That court concluded the long processing times imposed a clear and unconstitutional burden on their right to bear arms. This case appears to have influenced the DOJ’s decision to act. As William of Copper Jacket TV emphasized, the DOJ isn’t limiting its attention to just two plaintiffs. Officials believe these delays might reflect a much larger systemic issue affecting thousands of residents.

Gavin Newsom in the Crosshairs

Governor Gavin Newsom’s public stance on gun laws has also drawn federal attention. Mizelle cited Newsom’s past calls for a “28th Amendment” to restrict Second Amendment rights following pro-gun rulings by the Supreme Court. He also pointed to the Governor’s frequent praise of California’s strict gun laws, suggesting that this ideological posture has translated into policy that violates constitutional rights. “California has been a particularly egregious offender,” Mizelle wrote.

Local Law, Local Overreach

It’s not just state law that’s raising eyebrows. Mizelle accused many localities within California of going beyond what state law requires, creating even more burdens for residents. These include high fees and excessive wait times for concealed handgun licenses. This compounded local resistance is what led the DOJ to target the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department first, as explained on Copper Jacket TV and echoed by several legal voices across the 2A community.

Pattern or Practice Litigation Comes to 2A

On his Four Boxes Diner channel, attorney Mark W. Smith called this a historic moment. He described the DOJ’s move as the first real application of “institutional reform litigation” to the Second Amendment. This type of litigation has traditionally been used in school desegregation or prison reform cases. Now, it’s being deployed to combat bureaucratic slow-walking of gun rights. According to Smith, this represents a powerful new legal tool – one that gun rights advocates have long called for.

A Calculated Legal Strategy

Smith suggested that if DOJ lawyers compare the time it takes to get a driver’s license or a voter ID in California to the months-long delay for concealed carry permits, they’ll have a strong case. “If you can get a driver’s license in a day but it takes 18 months to get a carry permit,” Smith said, “that’s unconstitutional.” His analysis points to a straightforward legal argument: unequal treatment of constitutional rights cannot be allowed to stand.

A National Message

This investigation is sending shockwaves well beyond California. Jared Yanis named states like New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Hawaii as possible future targets. The DOJ, he said, is “watching” other localities that use bureaucracy to discourage or block legal firearm ownership. Mizelle’s post confirmed this when he warned other states: “We are watching you.” In short, the federal government appears ready to bring civil rights scrutiny to gun control policies nationwide.

A Rare Moment of Optimism

Many gun rights advocates are cautiously optimistic. Copper Jacket TV’s William, who has often criticized the DOJ in the past, praised the investigation as a “big deal” and a much-needed step. “Don’t make it hollow,” William said. “If you’re going to launch an investigation, back it up with action.” It’s a sentiment shared across the community – hope that this isn’t just talk, but a sign of real change.

A New Frontier for 2A Enforcement

What makes this situation especially fascinating is how it turns the usual power dynamic on its head. For decades, federal authorities have been used to enforce gun control laws. Now, the same system is being mobilized to protect gun rights. If successful, this investigation could lead to precedent-setting reforms – and force states to treat the Second Amendment with the same urgency they give to other civil rights. It’s a sharp and long-overdue pivot.

Enforcement Over Legislation

It’s also worth noting that this effort doesn’t require new laws – just the will to enforce existing ones. That might be the most powerful takeaway of all. The Constitution already protects the right to bear arms. The Supreme Court has reaffirmed it again and again. The real battle, it turns out, may not be in the legislature, but in city halls and county offices where red tape becomes a barrier to freedom.

Looking Ahead

For now, the DOJ’s investigation into Los Angeles County is ongoing. But the message is clear: gun rights are civil rights. And just like other civil rights, they will be defended when infringed. Whether that defense grows into a sweeping wave of reform across other states remains to be seen – but this first move is already making history.