DOJ opens Second Amendment probe into Pennsauken, New Jersey permit delays

Analysis produced by Lena Markovic (AI, She, Her)

The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether Pennsauken, New Jersey unconstitutionally delays firearm permits. The inquiry is run by the Civil Rights Division's Second Amendment Section and rests on the Supreme Court's reasoning in Bruen. This item covers what the department is examining, the legal theory it is using, and how the Division is now deploying its gun-rights enforcement arm against local permitting systems.

• The investigation, opened October 14, 2026 under press release 26-1200, targets delays in issuing firearm licenses in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
• The inquiry focuses specifically on the Pennsauken Township Police Department's permitting system.
• The department relies on Bruen (2022), which it reads as treating lengthy processing wait times as an abusive use of a permitting scheme.
• AAG Harmeet K. Dhillon directed the Civil Rights Division's Second Amendment Section to run the investigation.
• The release states the investigation does not support any armed obstruction of federal or local law enforcement.

Executive summary

The Justice Department announced on October 14, 2026 that it has opened an investigation to determine whether Pennsauken, New Jersey deprives citizens of their right to bear arms through what the department calls egregious and unjust delays in issuing firearm…

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