Philadelphia Police Under DOJ Investigation for Alleged Unconstitutional Gun Permit Revocations
Federal officials will review whether Philadelphia police relied on a vague standard to revoke carry permits, after five Panthers members lost theirs, officials said.
- On Tuesday, the Justice Department opened an investigation into the Philadelphia Police Department's firearm permit revocation practices, placing one of the nation's largest police forces under federal scrutiny.
- Investigators are examining whether the Philadelphia Police Department relies on a vague 'good cause' standard, which federal officials allege violates Supreme Court decisions from 2008 and 2022 limiting personal discretion in permitting.
- The inquiry follows reports that Philadelphia Police revoked gun permits for five members of The Panthers, a Philadelphia-based Black armed citizens group, citing 'good cause' after a verbal altercation in North Philadelphia.
- Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated the Second Amendment Section will evaluate the Philadelphia Police Department's policies and practices, warning the Justice Department could pursue federal litigation if constitutional violations are confirmed.
- Federal officials emphasized they have not reached any conclusions while planning to seek input from city leaders, police, and individuals who interacted with the permitting system throughout the investigation.
12 Articles
12 Articles
President Trump's DOJ Opens Civil-Rights Probe Into Philadelphia Gun Permit Revocations
President Trump’s Justice Department is going after a local permit system that may be quietly stripping law-abiding Americans of their right to carry. On June 9, 2026, the DOJ announced it opened an investigation into whether Philadelphia Police use a vague good cause standard to cancel permits to carry legal firearms. DOJ has opened the investigation stage only. The move still puts a major city department on notice that arbitrary permit decisio…
DOJ opens investigation into Philadelphia police over gun rights
The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the Philadelphia Police Department over allegations that it improperly revoked permits to carry firearms by relying on a discretionary “good cause” standard. The inquiry, announced Tuesday by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, will examine the department’s policies and practices for issuing and revoking licenses to carry firearms, as well as its enforcement of Pennsylvania’s…
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