The Justice Department on Tuesday launched a civil rights investigation into whether the Philadelphia Police Department improperly revokes licenses to carry firearms by relying on a vague "good cause" standard that may violate the Second Amendment.

The probe, announced by the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, will examine the Philadelphia Police Department's policies and practices for issuing and revoking concealed-carry permits, as well as its enforcement of Pennsylvania's Uniform Firearms Act.

The investigation will assess whether the city and police department have engaged in a pattern or practice of depriving residents of rights protected under the Second and Fourteenth Amendments.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the department's Second Amendment Section was directed to protect "law-abiding citizens from local authorities who infringe the right to safely carry legal firearms."

"Law-abiding Americans, regardless of where they live, should not have to worry that their city will revoke their means of self-defense," Dhillon said.

The DOJ cited Supreme Court rulings, including District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and a 2022 decision that limited government discretion in firearms licensing, as the legal basis for the review. Federal officials said permitting authorities cannot use broad or subjective standards when deciding whether to issue or revoke firearm carry licenses.

In a letter to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, the department stressed that it has not reached any conclusions and will review all relevant evidence, including steps city officials have taken to comply with constitutional requirements.

Investigators plan to interview city and police officials as well as residents who have interacted with the department.

The DOJ said the investigation is focused solely on the lawful exercise of constitutional rights and "does not support or condone any armed criminal activity or criminal obstruction of federal or local law enforcement."

If investigators find no pattern of constitutional violations, the case will be closed. If violations are found, the department said it will seek to work with city officials on corrective measures before considering litigation.