Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course, sought to dismiss charges that allegedly violate his Second Amendment rights during a recent federal court hearing in Fort Pierce, Fla. The defense argued that Routh’s prior felony convictions should not prevent him from owning a firearm, emphasizing that the Second Amendment applies to all individuals, not just law-abiding citizens. They also contested the charge of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number, claiming it does not infringe on Second Amendment rights. However, prosecutors maintained that felons are prohibited from owning firearms and highlighted the illegality of possessing a firearm with a removed serial number.

Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by President Trump, presided over the hearing, which also addressed the witness identification process and the potential threat Routh posed. Prosecutors pushed to exclude arguments regarding Routh’s mental or physical capacity to harm Trump, emphasizing the seriousness of the charges. Notably, a live-fire test of the rifle found at the scene, believed to be intended for the assassination attempt, was approved for the defense. Routh’s trial is scheduled to commence in September. The case underscores complex legal debates surrounding Second Amendment rights, felon firearm possession, and the intricacies of witness identification in high-profile criminal trials.