Florida Attorney General Supports Second Amendment Rights for Non-Dangerous Felons
Florida Attorney General James Usmeyer (R) took to X on Tuesday to express his support for the Second Amendment rights of non-dangerous felons.
In his message, Usmeyer emphasized that gun ownership represents an “American tradition” and that the right to self-defense is “a God-given right…enshrined in the Constitution by the Second Amendment.”
He pointed out that the Supreme Court has established that to be denied the right to bear arms, an individual must present a “credible threat to the physical safety of another.” Usmeyer highlighted a case involving a man convicted in another state for possessing a firearm without a license but who has caused no threat to his community. He argued that such an individual shouldn’t face incarceration as a felon.
While he supported banning dangerous felons from owning firearms, he stressed that individuals who are not a danger and pose no threat should not be treated as if they were.
In 2007, Christopher Morgan was convicted in Pennsylvania for possessing a firearm without a license, categorized as a third-degree felony. Later, in 2022, he was arrested in Tallahassee for having a Glock handgun in his vehicle.
In a brief statement earlier this year, Usmeyer indicated that he believes Morgan was unjustly stripped of his Second Amendment rights due to his status as a non-violent felon.
Usmeyer articulated several points regarding Morgan’s situation: firstly, the Second Amendment applies to Morgan’s actions of carrying a concealed firearm. Secondly, the laws that disarm non-dangerous felons contradict the nation’s longstanding tradition regarding firearm regulations. Lastly, Morgan’s prior out-of-state conviction for unlicensed firearm possession does not sufficiently establish any dangerousness or risk to public safety, nor is there further evidence supporting the claim.
In response to Usmeyer’s statements, American Gun Owners remarked that this shows what a genuine pro-gun Attorney General looks like.
