The Radical Reading Room

The U.S. Department of Justice notified Glendale, California, that it has authorized a possible lawsuit over concealed-carry licensing fees and may file its complaint if the city declines to negotiate. In a letter dated October 28, 2026, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon informed city officials that the initial application fee has been raised from $100 to $1,078, with renewal fees increasing from $50 to $826. When combined with additional costs like training and psychological evaluations, the total cost for a new license reaches approximately $2,000, and renewals amount to about $1,300.

Dhillon argued that the fees could deny ordinary people their Second Amendment right to carry firearms in public, an allegation the department has not yet proved in a lawsuit. She noted that the fees and licensing process in Glendale resemble a 'may-issue' scheme, which the Supreme Court has previously deemed unconstitutional under the Bruen decision.

The Justice Department gave Glendale until 5 p.m. Eastern on November 4 to say whether it will enter pre-suit negotiations. The department says any settlement must require the city to stop enforcing the disputed fees and subjective licensing process, acknowledge that the department considers both unconstitutional, and agree to a court-enforceable consent decree. If the city does not respond, the department says it may file the complaint without further notice.

The department describes Glendale's application costs as among the highest in the country. The October 28 letter was a notice of intent to sue, not a filed lawsuit or a judicial finding that the fees violate the Constitution.