Davis

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiffs David R. Davis, Jacob Daniel Hill, Brian Goldstein, Paul Cohen, Jill Brown, Chris Butler, Scott Austin, Eric Feder, and Lisa Siegel appeal from a judgment denying their petition for writ of mandate. By their petition, plaintiffs sought to compel defendants City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), and Police Chief Charlie Beck (collectively the City) to issue them permits to carry concealed weapons (CCW). The trial court concluded that mandate was not the proper remedy in this case and denied the petition. We affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. The Assenza Judgment and the LAPD Concealed Weapons Permit Policy In 1994 the Los Angeles Superior Court entered a stipulated judgment in an action entitled Assenza v. City of Los Angeles (Super. Ct. L.A. County, 1994, No. BC115813) brought by a group of plaintiffs against the City, LAPD, then-Police Chief Willie L. Williams, and others. The plaintiffs were citizens and taxpayers who had unsuccessfully sought CCW permits from the City. They “challeng[ed] LAPD’s procedure, rules and practices for issuing licenses to carry concealed firearms pursuant to” Penal Code former section 12050…