Florida AG Defends Second Amendment Rights of Non-Dangerous Felons

Uthmeier says individuals who pose no threat must not be treated as dangerous criminals

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:21pm

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A fragmented, abstract painting of a handgun in shades of grey, blue, and red, conveying the complex and contentious nature of the debate over gun rights and public safety.Florida's Attorney General defends the Second Amendment rights of non-dangerous felons, sparking a debate over balancing public safety and individual liberties.Tallahassee Today

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) has assured Floridians that he will uphold the Second Amendment rights of non-dangerous felons. Uthmeier described gun ownership as an 'American tradition' and self-defense as a 'God-given right' protected by the Constitution. He noted that the Supreme Court indicates the Constitutional and American tradition requires 'an individual must post a credible threat to the physical safety of others' in order to be denied the exercise of his gun rights.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate over balancing public safety and individual rights when it comes to firearm ownership, particularly for those with prior criminal convictions. Uthmeier's stance aligns with the views of gun rights advocates who argue that non-violent offenders should not be stripped of their Second Amendment freedoms.

The details

Uthmeier defended the duty to bar dangerous felons from gun ownership but stressed that individuals who are not dangerous and pose no threat must not be treated as if they do. He cited the case of Christopher Morgan, who was convicted in 2007 of carrying a firearm without a license in Pennsylvania, a third-degree felony. In 2022, Morgan was pulled over in Tallahassee, Florida, with a Glock handgun in his car and subsequently arrested. In February 2026, Uthmeier 'filed a brief writing that, upon further review, he believed that, as a nonviolent felon, Morgan was being deprived of his Second Amendment rights.'

  • In 2007, Christopher Morgan was convicted of carrying a firearm without a license in Pennsylvania.
  • In 2022, Morgan was pulled over in Tallahassee, Florida, with a Glock handgun in his car and subsequently arrested.
  • In February 2026, Uthmeier filed a brief arguing that Morgan, as a nonviolent felon, was being deprived of his Second Amendment rights.

The players

James Uthmeier

The Republican Attorney General of Florida who has defended the Second Amendment rights of non-dangerous felons.

Christopher Morgan

A man convicted in 2007 of carrying a firearm without a license in Pennsylvania, a third-degree felony, who was later arrested in 2022 in Tallahassee, Florida, for possessing a Glock handgun in his car.

Gun Owners of America

A gun rights advocacy group that responded positively to Uthmeier's brief, stating 'This is what a REAL pro-gun attorney general looks like.'

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What they’re saying

“First, the text of the Second Amendment covers Morgan's act of carrying a concealed firearm. Second, laws disarming nondangerous felons are not consistent with the Nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation. Third, Morgan's out-of-state felony conviction for carrying a firearm without a license does not sufficiently evince dangerousness, risk to public safety, or proclivity for breaching the peace sufficient to justify disarming him. Nor does any other evidence in the record.”

— James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General

“This is what a REAL pro-gun attorney general looks like.”

— Gun Owners of America

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow Christopher Morgan, the non-violent felon, to regain his Second Amendment rights.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over balancing public safety and individual rights when it comes to firearm ownership, particularly for those with prior criminal convictions. Uthmeier's stance aligns with the views of gun rights advocates who argue that non-violent offenders should not be stripped of their Second Amendment freedoms.