The number of gun carry licenses revoked by the Philadelphia Police Department jumped nearly two and half times over the past five years, according to data obtained by The Trace, an increase that has drawn federal scrutiny over the criteria the department is using to make its decisions.
The police revoked nearly 2,200 carry licenses last year, more than double the number from 2021, when they revoked over 800, the data shows. In June, the Justice Department launched an investigation into whether the police were using vague standards to revoke carry licenses, part of a broader Trump administration effort to overturn gun restrictions it views as unconstitutional. A spokesperson said the Justice Department does not comment on active investigations.
The Trace reported in May about the Philadelphia police revoking the carry licenses of several members of the Black Lion Party for International Solidarity. The group — which models itself after the Black Panther Party of the 1960s — conducts community-safety patrols in the city armed with assault-style guns.
During one such patrol in late January, Black Lion members got into a heated, verbal clash with a Philadelphia police officer. Five members — including the group’s leader, Paul Birdsong — received police letters the following month saying their gun licenses were being revoked for “good cause” and “character and reputation,” as allowed under state law.
Two Black Lions members who were not present during the January clash have since had their licenses reinstated, said attorney Paul Hetznecker, who is part of the group’s legal team. The other members await hearings.
“This is another example of the city of Philadelphia’s military-style policing tactics, and their effort to undermine the rights of a Black radical organization by using the permitting process to take away their right to carry their weapons,” Hetznecker said.
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a bill that would bar police from revoking a carry license based on “character and reputation.” The measure was introduced by Republican State Representative Eric Davanzo, who criticized the standard as vague. “The current language provides no definitions, standards, policies, or limitations as to what constitutes a proper character and reputation,” he said.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel have maintained that the Black Lions’ revocations were lawful. Bethel has expressed confidence that the federal investigation would exonerate his department.
“Once they get behind the scenes and see what we do and why we come to that place of revocation, they will hopefully understand that we do it with purpose,” he told The Trace. “We have a process and a purpose for why we would take a gun from someone.”
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner questioned the motives behind the federal probe and said he supported the police revoking more licenses. “There’s way too many guns out there. There’s way too many permits out there,” he said. “We see homicides by people with a permit to carry all the time.”