Politics & Government

Assemblyman Aims to Influence Governor on Open-Carry Bill

Brian Jones says Second Amendment event at Lemon Grove Gun Club exceeded his expectations.

With Gov. Jerry Brown mulling whether to sign a ban on openly carrying firearms,  supporters of the right to bear arms, led by , gathered for a Friday at the Lemon Grove Gun Club.

Jones said the event was intended to help “spread awareness about the Second Amendment and firearms safety.”

The former Santee councilman made a statement about gun rights—specifically about a number of bills that have come before the state Assembly that he said would curb gun ownership rights.

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“We hope that Gov. Brown will veto them all,” Jones said. “We’re standing up to them like a band of brothers to counter the liberals on your right to own and bear arms.”

One is AB 144, which the state Senate approved Sept. 8. It would make it a crime to openly carry an unloaded handgun in public. Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, who wrote the bill, made exceptions for peace officers, military gatherings, gun shows and hunting.

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But the bill targets the “open carry” movement in which people display their firearms in public places.

At the Lemon Grove event, Sam Paredese, executive director of Gun Owners of California, also spoke about protecting Second Amendment rights at the state and federal level.

, including La Mesa.

The Gun Club offered attendees the chance to shoot a .22 rifle at targets or a pump-action shotgun shooting at clay pigeons flying through the air—all for free.

The club gave an in-depth safety briefing beforehand and club members volunteered to supervise shooters.

The event was timed to coincide with Constitution Week—which  runs from Sept. 17 to 23. Jones said the purpose of the event was to “educate his constituents on the importance of the Second Amendment of our Constitution and society.”

Jones said he recently spoke on the Assembly floor in defense of Second Amendment gun ownership rights.

Many members of the club came out and shot well, a kid or two partook, many tried a firearm they hadn’t used before, and it was even one shooter’s first time.

Alpine came out to supply some food an drink for the event.


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