Trump DOJ Launches Civil Rights Probe into Pennsauken, NJ Gun Permit Delays, Citing Bruen and Pattern-or-Practice Authority

The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division opened an investigation on October 14, 2026, into whether Pennsauken Township, New Jersey's police department has imposed unconstitutional delays on firearm purchase and carry permits, potentially violating the Second Amendment. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated the probe aims to determine if allegations of "egregious and unjust delays" are accurate and to remedy any violations, emphasizing that lengthy waits can amount to "abusive ends" under the Supreme Court's 2022 Bruen decision.

The investigation, handled by the division's Second Amendment Section (established in late 2025), invokes "pattern-or-practice" authority from the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act—historically used for police misconduct cases—now applied to permitting backlogs. New Jersey law requires processing within 30 days once an application is complete, yet complaints allege waits exceeding four months.

This action builds on a June 2024 federal lawsuit (No. 24-cv-7098) filed by Pennsauken resident Christian Benton, the Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners, Gun Owners of America, and the Gun Owners Foundation against the township's police chief and the state attorney general. The suit challenges permitting delays alongside the state's one-handgun-per-month limit; portions alleging delays were narrowed by a court ruling finding no ongoing constitutional injury for plaintiffs who ultimately received permits.

The Pennsauken probe fits a broader DOJ enforcement pattern under the Trump administration. Similar investigations or suits have targeted Los Angeles County (settled August 2026 after staffing and software upgrades reduced average waits from 281 days), San Jose (sued September 2026 over a $1,600 fee and psych exam), Minnesota cities (sued September 2026 over purchase permit waits), and Philadelphia (probe opened June 2026 on permit revocations). Critics, including gun-control advocates, argue these efforts divert resources from traditional civil rights enforcement.

The case highlights tensions between federal Second Amendment enforcement and local administration in a Democratic-leaning state with strict gun laws. Residents may submit complaints online as the DOJ gathers evidence without prejudging outcomes.