Florida Attorney General Uthmeier Defends Controversial Gun Law Positions
Attorney General James Uthmeier tells Tampa crowd his constitutional oath supersedes enforcement of certain gun laws he deems unconstitutional.
TAMPA, FLORIDA — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier defended his decisions not to enforce certain state gun laws during a Tampa Tiger Bay Club meeting Friday, telling more than 100 attendees at the Cuban Club in Ybor City that his constitutional oath takes precedence over existing statutes.
Uthmeier, who has served as attorney general for 14 months, has generated significant headlines for his positions on firearms regulations. His decisions have drawn criticism from law enforcement officials and created potential campaign challenges as he prepares to face voters for the first time in November.
Constitutional Oath Takes Priority
“Where I make these decisions not to enforce certain Florida laws, that is based on the oath I take,” Uthmeier told the crowd Friday. “My first oath to the people of Florida when I put up my hand is to uphold and defend our Constitution.”
The 38-year-old attorney general, who previously served as deputy general counsel in Governor Ron DeSantis’ office, has taken several controversial stances on gun-related legislation over the past year.
Series of Gun Law Challenges
In August 2025, Uthmeier announced that he and Governor DeSantis believed Florida’s 2018 law banning individuals under 21 years of age from purchasing long guns was unconstitutional. He directed his office not to defend the statute in court.
Following a September ruling by the First District Court of Appeals that declared Florida’s 1987 law banning open carry unconstitutional, Uthmeier declared that open carry is now the law of the state.
Most recently, the attorney general contended that Florida’s law prohibiting convicted felons from possessing firearms is unconstitutional when applied to people who have not committed violent crimes and are considered “nondangerous.”
Opposition from State Attorneys
Uthmeier’s position on felon firearm possession has drawn strong pushback from all 20 of Florida’s state attorneys, both Republicans and Democrats. The rare unified opposition from elected prosecutors highlights the controversial nature of his interpretation.
The attorney general’s approach to gun laws represents a shift in how the state’s top law enforcement official interprets constitutional requirements versus existing statutes.
As Uthmeier prepares for his first electoral campaign this November, his high-profile positions on gun rights may boost name recognition among certain voters while creating potential vulnerabilities with others concerned about public safety implications.
