The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) new concealed carry weapon permitting policy will cost Angelenos $268 with 20 percent or $53 due at the time of the in-person interview.
That doesn’t include the livescan or training class, which adds nearly $300 to the cost of becoming licensed to carry a concealed weapon, according to attorney Konstadinos T. Moros, who represents the California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA).
“This is way over what other states charge,” he said. “In Florida, for example, their whole process costs $92. The worst-case scenario is that people of lower income will have their constitutional rights chilled, or worse, they will just carry illegally and put themselves in legal danger if they are caught.”
In comparison, the LA Sheriff’s Department charges $150.
“It’s not clear why LAPD feels it can charge so much more,” Moros told the Southern California Record.
The LAPD did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“The state legislature claims they are all about the people of lower income,” said Rick Travis, CRPA legislative director. “The truth is they release criminals who prey upon them, cut back law enforcement and price the people out of self-protection.”
As previously reported in the Southern California Record, the LAPD suspended its CCW permitting application process in order to evaluate the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in N.Y. State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which eliminated good or proper cause requirements.
But the CRPA wants the LAPD to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling within 45 days from the Sept. 16 date that Moros issued a pre-litigation letter.
“Releasing a policy is one thing, but actually processing applications in a reasonable time frame is another,” Moros added. "Hopefully them posting the policy is a sign that they will now begin processing applications, but we’ll see."
The pre-litigation letter states that delaying concealed carry permit issuance is an obstruction that constitutes open defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling.
The San Jose Police Department, Covina PD, and Manhattan PD were also sent a version of the letter.
"If we do pursue a lawsuit against the LAPD, the excessive expense would certainly be one of the claims," Moros said. "Additionally, it’s interesting that the LAPD used to mention the California law stating the 90-day time limit to issue permits. Penal Code section 26205 is now totally omitted from LAPD’s revised page. That does not inspire confidence that they intend to process applications in a reasonable timeframe."