Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier just dropped a bombshell that’s got the 2A world buzzing: he’s admitting the state screwed up by convicting nondangerous felon Christopher Morgan for simply possessing a firearm. In a stunning reversal, Uthmeier’s office confessed error in the case, arguing that blanket disarmament of all felons—regardless of threat level—lacks any historical analogue and runs afoul of the Second Amendment as clarified by Bruen. Citing the Supreme Court’s mandate for text, history, and tradition, Uthmeier points out there’s zero evidence from the Founding era that non-violent offenders like Morgan (convicted of something akin to a white-collar slip-up) were stripped of their natural right to self-defense. This isn’t some rogue opinion; it’s the AG’s team waving the white flag in court, potentially unraveling Florida’s draconian lifetime gun ban for felons.
What’s clever here—and why 2A advocates should pop the champagne—is how Uthmeier flips the script on post-Bruen challenges. Historically, common-law felonies were rare, violent affairs punishable by death or mutilation, not paperwork crimes slapped on today for victimless offenses. Disarming every felon, dangerous or not, is a modern invention without revolutionary roots, much like New York’s sensitive places nonsense that SCOTUS smacked down. This confession sets a precedent: Florida courts must now parse dangerous from nondangerous, likely restoring rights to thousands who’ve served their time and pose zero risk. It’s a masterclass in analogical reasoning, echoing Range v. Lombardo where a non-violent felon kept his guns because history didn’t demand otherwise.
The implications for the gun rights community are massive. This could cascade nationally, pressuring blue states to justify their felon-in-fetters regimes or watch them crumble under Bruen scrutiny. For Florida’s 2A warriors, it’s vindication after years of fighting Statute 790.23—expect copycat challenges flooding dockets. Pro-gunners should rally behind Uthmeier (kudos to his Bruen-savvy team) and push legislators for reform, carving out rights restoration for rehabilitated nondangerous folks. If this sticks, it’s not just a win for Morgan; it’s a blueprint dismantling the once a felon, always disarmed myth, reaffirming that the Second Amendment endures for the law-abiding at heart, not just the spotless. Stay vigilant—more felon-rights fireworks ahead.
