Concealed

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff Robert Luna, claiming the department violated county gunowners’ 2nd Amendment rights by delaying thousands of concealed carry permit application decisions for “unreasonable” periods of time.

In a statement, the DOJ claimed that the Sheriff’s Department “systematically denied thousands of law-abiding Californians their fundamental Second Amendment right to bear arms outside the home — not through outright refusal, but through a deliberate pattern of unconscionable delay.”

The complaint, filed in the Central District of California, the federal court in Los Angeles, cites data provided by the Sheriff’s Department about the more than 8,000 concealed carry permit applications and renewal applications it received between Jan. 2, 2024, and March 31.

During that period, the DOJ wrote, it took an average of nearly 300 days for the Sheriff’s Department to schedule interviews to approve the applications or “otherwise” advance them.

As a result, of the nearly 4,000 applications for new concealed carry licenses it received during those 15 months, “LASD issued only two licenses.” Two others were denied, the DOJ said, while the rest remained pending or were withdrawn.

The Sheriff’s Department did not immediately provide comment Monday. In March, when the Trump administration announced its 2nd Amendment investigation, the department said it was “committed to processing all Concealed Carry Weapons [CCW] applications in compliance with state and local laws.”

The department’s statement said it had approved 15,000 applications for concealed carry licenses but that because of “a significant staffing crisis in our CCW Unit” it was “diligenty working through approximately 4,000 active cases.”

Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi said Monday that the DOJ was working to safeguard the 2nd Amendment, which “protects the fundamental constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms.”

“Los Angeles County may not like that right, but the Constitution does not allow them to infringe upon it,” Bondi said. “This Department of Justice will continue to fight for the Second Amendment.”

The federal agency’s complaint alleged that the practice of delaying the applications effectively forced gun permit applicants “to abandon their constitutional rights through administrative exhaustion.”

In December 2023, the California Rifle and Pistol Assn. sued the Sheriff’s Department over what it alleged were improper delays and rejections of applications for concealed carry licenses. In January, U.S. District Court Judge Sherilyn P. Garnett ordered the department to reduce delays.

In the new complaint, the DOJ called on the court to issue a permanent injunction.

Gun rights groups heralded the move by the Trump administration.

“This is a landmark lawsuit in that it’s the first time the Department of Justice has ever filed a case in support of gun owners,” Adam Kraut, executive director of the Second Amendment Foundation, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to see the federal government step up and defend the Second Amendment rights of citizens and hope this pattern continues around the country.”

IF you think you are good at spotting tiny details, this latest visual brainteaser might just put you to the ultimate test.

The puzzle shows a dazzling grid of colourful rings, and lurking among the glittering chaos is a single prize engagement ring.

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The engagement ring has been designed to blend almost seamlessly with the surrounding jewels. 

However, somewhere among the sparkly mix of rings lies just one special design: a diamond set in a gold band.

This sparkling stumper isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. 

The creators at image editor experts Remove Background have challenged players to find it in under 15 seconds..

Some smug puzzle pros claim to have spotted it in the blink of an eye, while others admit they spent minutes staring before finally giving up.

Experts say that challenges like this can give your brain a mini-workout, sharpening attention to detail and boosting focus. 

Are you able to spot it or will you be left scratching your head?

Time is tight, but if you ace this task, you must have 20/20 vision.

It might seem a bit daunting at first, but the key is to carefully examine each element of the scene.

You might wish to start from the bottom right corner of the image and work your way up.

Did you manage to spot the hidden ring? If so, congratulations!

Still struggling? Don’t worry as there will be a solution image at the bottom.

Fancy giving a go at more brainteasers? Check if you have a high IQ by trying to find the hidden elephant in just eight seconds.

This mind-boggling brainteaser has even the most professional puzzlers scratching their heads in pursuit of the answer.

Everyone can spot the elephant but the challenge is to count her legs.

Still up for one more? This tricky optical illusion has left puzzle-lovers questioning the quality of their eyesight.

Finding the hidden baby rhino buried in this group of elephants is a challenge – can you do it in less than ten seconds?

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June 21 (UPI) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a bill to require state law enforcement to work more closely with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in addition to another that would allow permit-less concealed carry of firearms.

The Democratic governor on Friday announced vetoes of the legislation, which had been approved by both legislative chambers.

Stein said the state is already stretched to assist federal officers.

“My oath of office requires that I uphold the Constitution of the United States,” Stein said. “Therefore, I cannot sign this bill because it would require sheriffs to unconstitutionally detain people for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released.

He noted the federeal Fourth Circuit “is clear that local law enforcement officers cannot keep people in custody solely based on a suspected immigration violation.”

Stein said he also wants offenders to be held accountable.

“Let me be clear, anyone who commits a serious crime in North Carolina must be prosecuted and held accountable regardless of their immigration status.”

He said he supports the bills’ efforts to require sheriffs to contact federal immigration authorities about people in their custody charged with dangerous crimes, including sexual battery, armed robbery, arson, assault on public officials and court personnel.

The vetoes were supported by Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers, Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough and Mecklenburg County Sheriff Gary McFadden.

Republicans blasted the decision by the governor, who was elected in November.

“Gov. Stein proved where his allegiances are,” state Senate Leader Phil Berger posted on X. “He’d rather prioritize his far-left donors and their dangerous open-border policies over the citizens of North Carolina who are desperately pleading for us to put an end to the illegal immigration crisis. I look forward to the Senate overriding his veto.”

Stein also vetoed a bill that would have allowed permitless concealed carry in North Carolina.

“This bill makes North Carolinians less safe and undermines responsible gun ownership,” Stein said. “The bill eliminates training requirements associated with concealed carry permits and reduces the age to carry a concealed weapon from 21 to 18 years old.

“We can and should protect the right to bear arms without recklessly endangering law enforcement officers and our people.”

Berger criticized the veto of this bill.

“Law-abiding North Carolinians shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to effectively exercise their Second Amendment rights,” the Senate leader said. “It’s past time for us to join the majority of states that recognize Constitutional Carry. I look forward to the Senate overriding Gov. Stein’s veto.”

To override a veto, three-fifths of the House and Senate must approve the bills.

In the latest election, Democrats broke the Republican supermajority in the House by gaining one seat. The GOP has a one-vote supermajority in the Senate.