In a move grounded firmly in constitutional principle, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has taken a notable stand in a case that could have wide implications for how states treat the rights of nonviolent felons.
At issue is the firearm possession conviction of Christopher Morgan, a man with a nonviolent criminal history.
Florida prosecutors had pursued and secured Morgan’s conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
But records show Morgan’s past did not include violent conduct — a distinction that, according to the Attorney General’s office, makes all the difference under the Second Amendment.
In a written court filing, AG Uthmeier urged the appellate court to reverse Morgan’s conviction, arguing that extending permanent firearm bans to nondangerous offenders has no clear historical basis and runs contrary to constitutional protections affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
In his filing, the Attorney General wrote that it is his duty to acknowledge when a conviction infringes on constitutional rights, especially when longstanding legal precedent has shifted in favor of individual rights.
This decision aligns with a growing recognition among legal scholars and state officials that blanket disarmament of nonviolent felons — without individualized determination of dangerousness — is inconsistent with the Second Amendment as interpreted in recent high-court rulings.
A Texas Parallel: Rights Restoration Advocacy
While Florida’s Attorney General acts to restore rights in the courts, Texas Gun Rights has been leading on this issue in the legislative arena.
In the 2025 session of the Texas Legislature, Texas Gun Rights President Chris McNutt testified in strong support of State Rep. Wes Virdell’s House Bill 2759, a commonsense reform that would restore firearm rights to nonviolent felons once their sentences, fines, and parole obligations are fully satisfied.
That bill, drafted by Gun Owners of America, reflected a recognition that a person who has served their time and poses no threat to public safety should not be condemned to a lifetime of disarmament.
“Our justice system should protect society and uphold constitutional rights, not strip them permanently from men and women who have paid their debt to society and shown they are no threat. Florida’s action today — and what HB 2759 aimed to do in Texas — is about restoring dignity and constitutional balance” Chris McNutt, President of Texas Gun Rights stated.
Although HB 2759 did not advance out of committee in 2025, Texas Gun Rights has made clear that rights restoration for nonviolent felons will be a top priority in the 2027 legislative session.
Leaders believe that the idea of restoring constitutional rights once punishment is complete resonates with Texans across the political spectrum.
Why It Matters
Restoring firearm rights to nonviolent felons is not about being soft on crime.
It is about consistent application of constitutional rights.
When a person has completed their sentence, met all conditions of parole or probation, and demonstrated law-abiding behavior, federal and state law should not treat them as permanently less than fully free.
Florida’s Attorney General is now putting those principles into practice — and Texas Gun Rights stands ready to do the same in the legislature.
Both efforts underscore a simple idea: Freedom is not a limited commodity to be harvested; it is a right that remains with the law-abiding unless there is a compelling, evidence-based reason to restrict it.
Chip in to Texas Gun Rights to help us continue leading on rights restoration and defend your constitutional freedoms.
