John developed a robust firearms law practice while associated with Gatzke, Dillon & Ballance LLP.  John’s current practice covers a broad range of firearms-related matters including constitutional law and civil rights matters and firearms litigation arising under the Second Amendment in federal and state courts.  He also regularly collaborates with other lawyers in the Second Amendment rights litigation arena.  Additional firearms-related practice areas encompass:

• Firearms regulation and compliance
• Licensing regulation and compliance
• Gun rights restoration
• Civil rights violations
• Firearms-related criminal charges, use of force/self-defense issues
• Auditing for firearms compliance
• Shooting range development and compliance matters

John is a certified firearms specialist in the operation and classification of firearms, ammunition, National Firearms Act weapons, other weapons, curio and relics, and various other complex firearm and munitions categories.  John is also a NRA-certified firearms instructor in pistol, shotgun, and rifle operations, and he appears regularly as a special guest host of the popular radio show, “Gun Sports Radio,” on AM 1170 The Answer San Diego – KCBQ. 

John also devotes time to land use and environmental planning and litigation matters based on his prior experience at his former law firm.  This work involved large- and small-scale land use development projects required to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, the California Planning and Zoning Law, the Subdivision Map Act, and other California land use and environmental laws and regulations.  John's experience includes the litigation and defense of approved development projects throughout California.  

In addition, John's experience includes the handling of civil litigation matters involving property/real estate, business, civil rights, and personal injury matters. John developed his litigation skills and background as an associate lawyer at his prior law firm. There, John developed a successful record of providing high-level representation through trial and appellate courts.

John received his J.D. from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles in 2013.  He is currently admitted to the State Bar of California, California Supreme Court, U.S. District Courts of California for the Southern, Central, Eastern, and Northern Districts, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Eighth Circuit.  John obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

At Loyola, John was an editor of the Loyola Entertainment Law Review and published an article evaluating Major League Baseball bankruptcies using the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bankruptcy as the case study.  After one-year clerking for the Compton District Attorney’s Office, John became an associate with the Gatzke, Dillon & Ballance LLP law firm; and as an associate, John worked on land use planning and environmental and litigation matters.