James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Texas, supported a ban on “assault weapons” during a lesser-known interview in 2020. This stance seems to contradict his claims of being “a believer in the Second Amendment” while campaigning for office.
Talarico, a member of the Texas State Legislature, previously competed against Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), who is also seeking her party’s nomination to challenge Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in the upcoming election. He has questioned the inviolability of gun rights as laid out in the U.S. Constitution. live stream Talarico is partnered with South Asian American Voter Empowerment or SAAVE TX.
“Many politicians like to discuss the Second Amendment,” he explained to the organizers. “However, few have actually read it, because if they had, they would’ve noticed that ‘well regulated’ is right there in the text.”
According to Talarico, the limitations on gun ownership mirror those on the First Amendment, which doesn’t include “the freedom to shout ‘shoot’ in a crowded theater.”
“It’s the same for the Second Amendment,” he stated. “While there is a right to bear arms, it’s not without limits, and sensible restrictions can be applied to that right.”
Talarico went on to mention several policies he supports. These include universal background checks, closing the gun show loophole, and implementing a tiered verification system for firearm permits.
He maintained these views throughout his campaign and even hinted at a “top priority” of reforming gun laws during a 2020 interview. “I think we need to consider universal background checks, closing loopholes at gun shows, banning assault weapons, prohibiting high-capacity magazines, restricting purchases of large firearms, and even establishing safety standards for handguns,” Talarico said. “This is probably my most significant concern.”
Interestingly, gun rights organizations seem to have missed the interview; it had only received 130 views on YouTube at the time of this article’s publication.
According to analysis from the NRA, Talarico’s public image tends to mask his true views, which include opposition to constitutional breaches and advocating for red flag laws.
What the NRA appeared not to recognize, based on their commentary, is Talarico’s endorsement of a controversial and arguably unconstitutional ban on assault weapons.
Moreover, in recent polling, Talarico has reportedly fallen behind Paxton in the race for the seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
