Justice Department Sues California City Over 'Unconstitutional' $1,600 Gun Permit Fee
The federal lawsuit says San José’s permit costs and psychological testing burden middle-class applicants and block low-income residents from carrying firearms.
- On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the city of San Jose and the San Jose Police Department, alleging that concealed-carry licensing fees violate the Second Amendment by imposing "abusive" financial barriers on residents.
- The lawsuit claims San Jose's $1,591 permit fee is the "highest in the nation," arguing such "exorbitant" costs make it effectively impossible for low-income citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
- While San Jose charges $1,591—with $318 due upfront and $1,273 at issuance—the DOJ noted neighboring cities charge significantly less: $144 in San Francisco, $255 to $325 in Berkeley, and $488 in Santa Clara.
- San Jose City Attorney Susana Alcala Wood rejected the allegations on Tuesday, maintaining the fee represents "full cost recovery" for 6.5 hours of staff work and complies with California law.
- Prosecutors also challenged the police department's requirement that applicants pay for psychological testing, while California Rifle and Pistol Association President Chuck Michel welcomed the federal intervention to stop these practices.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Analysis: DOJ Doubles Down on Gun-Carry Lawsuits
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed yet another lawsuit against a locality over its gun-carry permitting process. This time, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is going after San Jose, California, for its uniquely expensive permit fees. On Wednesday, it filed suit against the city over its permitting charges that add up to $1,500. It […]
DOJ Sues San Jose Over $1,600 Concealed Carry Fee: ‘An Unconstitutional Tax on the Second Amendment’
The Justice Department sued the City of San Jose and the San Jose Police Department on Wednesday, arguing the city’s nearly $1,600 concealed-carry permit fee is an unconstitutional barrier to the Second Amendment, the highest such fee in the nation and several times the cost of many handguns themselves. San Jose hiked the CCW fee to $1,591 in June, a jump of nearly $300 in two and a half years. The DOJ maintains the city did so without a resolu…
DOJ sues California city over 'illogical' $1,600 gun permit fee
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against San Jose, California, on Wednesday over its nearly $1,600 concealed carry permit fee, alleging the city has priced ordinary residents out of exercising their Second Amendment rights. The lawsuit targets the California city and its police department, escalating a dispute over whether the city’s $1,591 charge reflects legitimate […]
DOJ Sues City In California Over Country's Highest Concealed Carry Permit Fees
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of San Jose and the San Jose Police Department, alleging the city’s nearly $1,600 concealed carry permit fee unconstitutionally blocks residents from exercising their Second Amendment rights. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of […] DOJ Sues City In California Over Country’s Highest Concealed Carry Permit Fees
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