Reminder: George Chen and Jon Kaji (Conservatives?) Voted Against Red Rifle Gun Store

Torrance Mayor George Chen and Coucilman Jon Kaji lost bigly in Election 2026

Torrance Mayor George Chen has lost his re-election bid.

So has Councilman Jon Kaji.

Looking back at their votes and their commitment to the values they had campaigned on, it's no surprise they lost.

Consider this very disappointing outcome.

This was four years ago, and revealed that the conservative-leaning Torrance city council majority that so many had worked hard to elect was turning on its base.

Here's the eblast from the South Bay NRA following a key gun decision before the city council:

Good Day Everyone,

Unfortunately, the subject line of this emails sums it all up.

Last night, many of our members attended the Torrance City Council meeting regarding the business permit for Red Rifle LTD.  Many anti-gunners attempted to voice their opinions behind a wall of false pretenses.  Many of our patriots voiced support for free enterprise, education, training, and the Second Amendment.  But alas, the majority of the city council members voted to deny Red Rifle a business permit in Old Torrance.  The meeting did not end until after midnight.  We will spell out the meeting in more detail later.

In the meantime, we ask that you take a moments and send an email of support and appreciation to the ONE council member that voted in support of Red Rifle.

Please send your message of APPRECIATION to council member Aurelio Mattucci :  AMattucci@TorranceCA.Gov

Here is how the vote unfolded last night.

    

And one quick footnote.  Some of your expressed your excitement earlier this year when George Chen won the mayoral seat in Torrance.  You may want to have a second look at that.  

James Ma

President

NRA Members' Council

South Bay - Los Angeles

A gun store is a legitimate business.

The city council at this time had four Republicans (including Sellout Sharon Kalani and Dishonest Mike Griffiths), and one supposedly conservative-leaning independent.

Only Aurelio Mattucci voted the correct way. He voted for the store.

There is nothing wrong with a legitimate business setting up shop in the city, and the gun store was not just legitimate, but essential, considering all that had transpired across the country during the "mostly peaceful" George Floyd protests in 2020.

Chen was the biggest disappointment for many, since his supporters had viewed him as a partner with Councilman Mattucci on many issues.

At the CRA Christmas Party later that year, one resident confronted (now former) Mayor Chen about voting against the gun store, and he sheepishly replied: "This is what the voters wanted."

What kind of answer is that?!

More people are killed every year by car accidents than by guns (once you factor out the suicides and the self-defense actions). Should we stop opening businesses because parents fear that their children will get killed crossing the road?

Early on, George Chen was already disappointing the conservative base that had rallied hard to elect him.

Kaji, as well.

It's no surprise that they faced quite a backlash, and from all sides in Election 2026.

And they lost. They lost bigly.

Good riddance!