According to a recent survey from the Federal Reserve, nearly 40 percent of Americans would have trouble paying for an unexpected expense of $400 or more with cash. Another recent survey from a company called Omnisend found that about 30 percent of Americans are paying for essentials like groceries and gas with credit cards, knowing that they may not be able to pay off their bill.
"Affordability" has become the buzzword of the 2026 campaign cycle, as more and more of us are feeling the pinch. But while most politicians are at least paying lip service to the idea of making things easier on their constituents (in some cases by adopting the empty promises of socialism), the powers that be in Glendale, California are happily putting the screws to those residents who want to exercise their right to bear arms.
Glendale apparently raised its CCW application fees dramatically, now $1,078 for new permits, and $828 for renewals.
— Kostas Moros (@MorosKostas) August 14, 2026
When you factor in the training course, livescan, and psych exam, they are now even higher than Santa Clara. pic.twitter.com/3fXB1G9wk5
As one X user pointed out in response to Moros's post, Glendale was "only" charging $100 for a concealed carry license a year ago. That's still about twice what I pay for my carry license in Virginia, but it's also almost 1,000 percent less than the $1078 Glendale is now forcing residents to cough up before they can exercise a fundamental civil right.
And as Moros notes, the price of submitting an application is just part of the cost. Glendale residents will also be charged at least $93 for their fingerprints, and probably closer to $150 when the third party who scans the prints adds in their fee. Then there's the $500 psych evaluation fee, and the cost of the training that's mandated for all applicants, which can run anywhere from $300 to $435, according to the city.
All told, it will run someone about $2,000 just to apply for a carry license in Glendale, which is bound to have a chilling effect on the number of people applying for their CHL.
While the Supreme Court said in Bruen that "shall issue" licensing schemes were constitutional, the court also noted that lengthy wait times in processing applications or exorbitant fees could render even a "shall issue" system invalid. Glendale officials will undoubtedly claim that they're just passing the true cost of processing a carry permit on to the applicant, as allowed under California law, but I find that very hard to believe given that San Bernardino County charges $90 and Riverside County charges just $20 compared to Glendale''s $1,078.
There's already a legal challenge underway to the sky-high fees imposed in Santa Clara County, California, but it may be necessary to go after Glendale as well. And the Justice Department, which just entered into a settlement with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department over the lengthy delays in processing carry applications, should be very interested in what Glendale, Santa Clara County, and other jurisdictions are charging residents to exercise a right.
Even if it does legitimately cost Glendale more than $1,000 to process a carry application, the end result is a price tag that puts the right to bear arms out of the reach of many residents. Something has to give way here, and it cannot be the Second Amendment. The exorbitant fees allowed under California law are just a 21st century poll tax on the right to keep and bear arms, and the courts must strike them down to ensure that the people can exercise their fundamental rights regardless of how much money they make or have at their disposal.
Editor’s Note: The radical Left will stop at nothing to enact their radical gun control agenda and strip us of our Second Amendment rights.
Help us continue to report on and expose the Democrats’ gun control policies and schemes. Join Bearing Arms VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member