DOJ launches civil rights probe of Pennsauken gun permit delays
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced on Oct. 14, 2026 that it has opened a civil rights investigation into Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, alleging the town’s police permitting system creates unjustified delays in issuing firearm purchase and concealed‑carry licenses.
The inquiry comes after the agency said the delays infringe on the Second Amendment, a right the department describes as fundamental for self‑defense and public safety. By targeting the permitting process, the DOJ aims to determine whether local officials are using administrative requirements to suppress lawful gun ownership.
According to the Justice Department news release, the Pennsauken Township Police require applicants for a concealed‑carry permit to provide four personal references, submit a ten‑year residential history and undergo fingerprinting. Critics argue those hurdles amount to an “abusive” barrier that can deter ordinary citizens from exercising their constitutional right.
The Department cited the 2022 Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n, Inc. v. Bruen, which warned that a state’s permitting process is abusive when lengthy wait times or excessive fees deny the public the right to carry firearms. The DOJ contended that Pennsauken’s system falls within that prohibited scope.
"The right to bear arms is protected by the Constitution for every American — it is not a second‑class right!" Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said in a post on X.
Dhillon added that her office has directed the Second Amendment Section to defend law‑abiding citizens from local authorities who infringe on the right to safely carry legal firearms, underscoring the federal government’s commitment to enforce constitutional protections.
Pennsauken lies across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, a city ranked eighth in national crime statistics for 2025. While the town itself is not the focus of the investigation, officials expressed concern that residents lacking the means to obtain a permit could be vulnerable to criminal activity.
The investigation remains ongoing, with the DOJ reviewing the township’s permitting procedures and gathering testimony from applicants and officials. The agency has not indicated a timeline for any possible remedial actions, but promised to update the public as the probe progresses.
