San Diego County CA— The San Diego County Gun Owners (SDCGO), a political action committee promoting Second Amendment rights, has named attorney John Dillon with the Carlsbad-based law firm of Gatzke Dillon and Ballance LLP as its in-house legal counsel. The announcement was made by Michael Schwartz, executive director, SDCGO.
Schwartz said that Dillon will offer free consultation to SDCGO members on any firearms-related legal issue. “The constitutional rights of gun owners and gun shop owners are under constant attacks and are subject to a multitude of restrictions due to local, state and federal laws,” said Schwartz. “We are grateful to John for his willingness to lend his experience and expertise in complex litigation matters as part of our commitment to uphold the legal rights of gun owners as guaranteed in the Second Amendment.”
A native San Diegan, Dillon grew up in Vista and Oceanside and graduated from Tri-City Christian High School (class of 2006). He also graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) with a bachelor’s degree in history. He attended the Loyola Marymount University’s Loyola School of Law and passed the California bar exam in 2014. He resides in Fallbrook.
“We’re looking forward to serving SDCGO because we believe in upholding the law and serving gun owners, gun range operators, federal firearms licensed dealers, and gun manufacturers,” Dillon said. “Compliance with all applicable firearms laws is getting more complicated every day. Our firm is committed to understanding all aspects of both federal and state firearms laws and regulations and obtaining the most up-to-date and detailed information to give our clients and SDCGO members the best possible protection and counsel.”
Earlier this year, Dillon was credited with protecting North County gun owners by opposing proposals by the City of Encinitas City Council. “Attempts were made to restrict the legal rights of the firearms industry through a proposed land use zoning change and a second proposed city ordinance that would have controlled behavior within the privacy of someone’s home,” Dillon said. “We shared with the Encinitas City Council about the rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and informed the public about the personal biases of some council members who were supporters of anti-gun organizations.”
Based in Carlsbad, Calif., Gatzke Dillon & Ballance LLP, a law partnership formed in 1980, provides services in a broad range of disciplines, including land use, environmental, water, noise, endangered species, construction, natural resources, government, airport-aviation, civil litigation, business litigation, property litigation, personal injury claims, trial and appellate law. The firm represents public and private sector clients on complex and controversial planning and litigation matters.
Founded in 2015, the San Diego County Gun Owners is a registered political action committee (FPPC ID #1379388) and advocacy organization focused on organizing the gun industry and community and protecting the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right to bear arms. For more information, visit www.sandiegocountygunowners.com.