California Assemblyman Brian Jones, a Santee Republican representing the 71st Assembly District, has a history of promoting and defending firearms ownership that might be best exemplified by the Second Amendment Awareness event he sponsors at the Lemon Grove Rod & Gun Club in Alpine.
He is a member of that club and a life member of the California Rifle and Pistol Association.
Jones recently hosted the fifth annual such event, held in conjunction with Constitution Week, according to a press release from his office. He noted that the event has been growing steadily since the inaugural event.
According to his biography, Jones took office in December 2010 and before joining the State Assembly, he served on the Santee City Council. A former businessman and vice president for Diversified Realty Advisors, he also once managed a large non-profit “character education assembly” program for elementary schools.
Jones grew up in Santee, and attended San Diego State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He served as a full-time staff member at Sonrise Community Church in Santee, and is on the board of directors of the East County Boys and Girls Club.
The Ramona Sentinel noted that Jones uses his event not only to invite friends to enjoy safe shooting activities, but to introduce new shooters and educate everyone about legislation related to gun rights. The Lemon Grove Rod & Gun Club provides firearms and ammunition, and there are several firearms safety officers at the event.
Not only is Jones a shooter and strong Second Amendment advocate, he also enjoys other outdoor activities including off-roading, mountain biking and motorcycling, his biography noted.
Writing in an Op-Ed back in 2013 in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, Jones criticized politicians “in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C.” for exploiting that sad event to introduce gun control measures “to further restrict access to firearms for law-abiding citizens.”
“Too often,” he wrote, “there is a wrongheaded, knee-jerk reaction to rush and pass new laws.”
He warned about the consequences of such hasty actions, and cautioned against letting “emotion and hysteria overshadow the facts.”
“We must home in on the sad truth of the situation,” he observed, “no law or series of laws could ever have prevented this tragedy. This kind of evil respects no law, nor any code of civilized society.”
Jones does not appear inclined to call it quits on the rights of gun owners, in California or elsewhere.
For his willingness to step forward in defense of the Second Amendment civil rights, Assemblyman Jones is the October 2015 Defender of the Month.