PENNSAUKEN, NJ — The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into whether firearm-license delays by Pennsauken Township Police have denied New Jersey residents their Second Amendment rights.
The department announced the inquiry October 14, saying it would examine allegations of excessive and unjustified delays in the township’s permitting system. The announcement did not identify affected applicants, specify how long they waited or announce a finding that the township violated the Constitution.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the Civil Rights Division’s Second Amendment Section would investigate whether the allegations were true and seek to correct any unconstitutional delays it found.
The department based its announcement in part on the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. That ruling left room for challenges to otherwise objective licensing systems when excessive delays or fees prevent ordinary citizens from exercising the right to carry firearms publicly.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported October 15 that both the Justice Department and Pennsauken Township declined additional comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Pennsauken’s published application instructions distinguish firearms purchaser identification cards and handgun purchase permits from permits to carry a concealed handgun. The township directs applicants to electronic state systems and says applications are not complete until required documents and payments have been received.
The investigation concerns how the licensing process operates. Its announcement does not suspend application requirements, automatically approve pending applications or authorize carrying without a required permit.
Timeline
Legal and safety breakdown
In Bruen, footnote 9, the Supreme Court said objective, shall-issue licensing systems were not generally called into question by its decision. It nevertheless recognized that lengthy processing times or excessive fees could deny ordinary citizens public-carry rights and support a constitutional challenge.
The distinction matters here: a delay allegation is an issue for investigation, while a constitutional finding requires an evidentiary and legal determination. DOJ’s announcement sets out the subject of its inquiry; it does not determine that every licensing delay violates the Second Amendment.
Pennsauken’s official instructions also treat purchase credentials and carry permits as separate processes. Applicants should preserve the exact submission date, completion notices, receipts and agency communications for the particular credential involved.
Safety Tip: Keep copies of permit applications, receipts, completion notices and dated correspondence. A pending application or investigation is not a substitute for a required carry permit; verify the current rules before carrying.
Sources
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