The Second Amendment Section of the Justice Department’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division announced Tuesday it was investigating Philadelphia over its handling of concealed carry permits.
Pennsylvania is officially a “shall issue” state with regards to concealed carry permits, with its laws requiring authorities to issue the permits if people meet certain qualifications. In a Tuesday letter to Philadelphia Democratic Mayor Cherelle Parker, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said that the DOJ was looking into allegations regarding the Philadelphia Police Department’s administration and revocation of the permits under the provisions of the Police Pattern or Practice Act (34 USC 12601).
“The investigation will evaluate the PPD’s policies and practices regarding issuance and revocation of licenses to carry firearms and the PPD’s enforcement of the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act of 1995,” Dhillon wrote.
The police can’t revoke a concealed carry permit based on arbitrary decisions of licensing officials. Today, I directed @CivilRights‘ 2A Section to investigate the Philadelphia Police Department’s practice of revoking the CCWs of those lawfully carrying firearms in public.…
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) June 9, 2026
“The Department will be assessing law enforcement practices under the Second and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution,” Dhillon added. “Our investigation will focus on the lawful exercise of rights only; this investigation does not support or condone any armed criminal activity or criminal obstruction of federal or local law enforcement.”
Parker didn’t respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
The Second Amendment Section of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division was established on Dec. 4, 2025, to carry out President Donald Trump’s Feb. 7, 2025, executive order directing the DOJ to review government policies and to actively protect the Second Amendment.
“The police can’t revoke a concealed carry permit based on arbitrary decisions of licensing officials. Today, I directed @CivilRights’ 2A Section to investigate the Philadelphia Police Department’s practice of revoking the CCWs of those lawfully carrying firearms in public,” Dhillon posted on X.
“I’m born and raised in the area, and it has been something that we locally have all been aware of for a decade or more that Philadelphia PD has very loose standards as to what they will use to justify revoking people’s carry permits,” Second Amendment Foundation Director of Legal Operations William Sack told the DCNF. “So we are thrilled that the DOJ is taking a really close look at those standards and policies, and we hope that it shines a light on some policies at Philly PD that have been problematic for a long time.”
“The NRA applauds the Trump Justice Department’s aggressive defense of the Second Amendment,” NRA-ILA Executive Director John Commerford said when reached for comment by the DCNF. “By directly challenging unconstitutional gun bans and magazine restrictions in court, they are delivering on President Trump’s promise to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans. We stand ready to support these efforts as we continue fighting to restore and defend our constitutional freedoms nationwide.”
The Civil Rights Division sued the Virgin Islands in December over its practices and policies in granting firearms permits, including a requirement for applicants to purchase a gun safe that was bolted to the wall or floor and to allow police to carry out inspections in the home.
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