In a ruling that is drawing national attention, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon officially denied a motion to dismiss two key charges against Ryan Wesley Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump in 2024. The order, issued from the Southern District of Florida, rejected Routh’s constitutional challenge under the Second Amendment, allowing the prosecution to move forward with the case.
The Charges at the Center of the Fight
Routh is facing five federal charges, but his legal team recently zeroed in on Counts 4 and 5: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)) and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number (18 U.S.C. § 922(k)). As reported by Law & Crime’s Chris Perez, Routh’s defense argued that both laws violated his Second Amendment rights, especially after the Supreme Court’s more recent pro-gun rulings in Bruen and Rahimi. Judge Cannon wasn’t persuaded.
Citing the Eleventh Circuit: Rozier Still Rules
In her ruling, Judge Cannon referenced the 2010 Eleventh Circuit case United States v. Rozier, a precedent that upholds bans on firearm possession by felons. She stated that Rozier remains binding and hasn’t been undone by the Supreme Court’s more recent gun rights decisions. The opinion explains: “Rozier remains good law and must be respected unless and until it is overruled.” That means Routh, as a felon previously convicted of possessing dynamite, is lawfully barred from owning a firearm, regardless of any modern interpretation of the Second Amendment.
No Historical Basis for His Defense
Routh’s legal team tried to argue that the ban against felons owning firearms lacks historical precedent from the founding era, a key requirement under Bruen. But Cannon pushed back. In her words, there’s “no basis for this Court to deviate from binding Eleventh Circuit precedent.” She also noted that courts have repeatedly rejected similar arguments since Rahimi, confirming that historical tradition still allows the government to restrict firearm rights for convicted felons.
Felons, Guns, and the Founding Era
Criminal defense lawyer Robert Gouveia, covering the case on his YouTube channel, added interesting commentary on the argument. He noted that Routh claimed felons weren’t barred from possessing guns in the founding era – in fact, they were still expected to serve in the militia. “Felons weren’t exempt from militia service,” Gouveia explained, which may suggest they were allowed, or even required, to own firearms. Still, the court didn’t buy it.
Count 5: Serial Numbers and the Law
The second dismissed count, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, was also challenged on constitutional grounds. Routh’s attorneys said this regulation lacked a historical equivalent and thus violated his Second Amendment rights under the Bruen standard. But Judge Cannon didn’t agree, stating that if a person can be barred from owning any gun as a felon, they can surely be banned from possessing any category of gun, including one with a missing serial number.
Routh’s Background and the Assassination Plot
According to Law & Crime, Routh was caught in September 2024 hiding in the brush near the 6th hole at Trump International Golf Club in Florida, armed with a high-powered rifle. He allegedly waited 12 hours for Trump to appear before being spotted by a Secret Service agent. A confrontation followed, and Routh fled the scene. He was later arrested and reportedly left behind a letter confessing his failed assassination attempt, apologizing for “failing” in his mission.
A Judge Known for Defending Trump – Now Not So Much
Judge Cannon, a Trump appointee, previously made headlines for rulings in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago classified documents case that appeared favorable to the former president. That made her recent denial of Routh’s motion all the more surprising to some observers. As Chris Perez noted in his Law & Crime article, Cannon’s rejection of the Second Amendment defense against Trump’s would-be assassin stands in contrast to how she handled the government’s case against Trump himself.
Gouveia: A Strong Motion, But the Law Won
Robert Gouveia gave credit to Routh’s legal team for presenting a “solid Second Amendment argument,” at least from an academic perspective. “His argument is a good one if you’re a Second Amendment person,” Gouveia said, referencing the lack of any founding-era law that barred felons from owning firearms. But even he acknowledged that binding Eleventh Circuit precedent makes it nearly impossible to win on such a claim in federal court.
A Rare Moment of Judicial Consistency
It’s fascinating to see a judge like Cannon, previously criticized for leaning too far in Trump’s favor, make a decision so squarely rooted in legal precedent. Her ruling avoided politics and stuck to the book. That might not seem exciting, but in a case involving presidential assassination attempts, dynamite convictions, and high-powered rifles, it’s notable that the system still hinges on precedent instead of partisanship.
Could This Case Go to Trial?
Gouveia and others believe Routh’s legal team will likely keep pushing – either to trial or through continued appeals. “He’s filing a lot of motions,” Gouveia said, suggesting that this might not be the end of the courtroom drama. If a plea deal isn’t reached, and that seems unlikely given the seriousness of the charges, we could be looking at a high-profile trial involving attempted assassination, terrorism charges, and constitutional questions all rolled into one.
What Happens Next?
With Judge Cannon’s ruling now official, the prosecution continues. Routh still faces five major charges, including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and assault on a federal officer. If convicted on all counts, he could face life in federal prison, not to mention separate state charges including terrorism and attempted murder. The federal court’s refusal to drop the gun-related charges makes it clear: this case is going to proceed at full speed.
A Landmark in Modern Second Amendment Battles
This ruling may not be groundbreaking in terms of creating new law, but it confirms a key takeaway in post-Bruen America: felons still don’t have Second Amendment rights, at least not in the eyes of federal courts. The Supreme Court may weigh in again down the road, but for now, Judge Cannon’s decision locks in the Eleventh Circuit’s hard line – no guns for convicted felons, even those claiming historical backing. And for Ryan Routh, that means the full weight of the law is coming.
Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.
