Texas Dem Talarico: Second Amendment ‘Not Absolute
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico says the Second Amendment is not absolute, echoing Joe Biden's rhetoric while calling for gun restrictions in his campaign platform.
Speaking on the Unity Over Division podcast, Talarico explicitly stated his belief that constitutional protections for firearms ownership come with inherent limitations, according to Breitbart News.
The Senate hopeful framed his position as supportive of gun ownership while simultaneously arguing for restrictions. He acknowledged Americans have the right to bear arms for self-defense, family protection, sport, and hunting, but insisted these freedoms are not unlimited.
Talarico’s language closely parallels statements made by Biden during a CNN Town Hall on February 26, 2020, when the then-presidential candidate claimed the Second Amendment was not absolute, as Breitbart News reported at the time.
Biden later expanded on this position in a post to X, writing that no constitutional amendment comes without limits. The president, citing his background teaching constitutional law, emphasized his belief that all amendments face restrictions.
Permit Requirements for First Amendment Rights
Talarico extended his argument beyond firearms, suggesting other constitutional protections also face governmental limitations. He told the podcast that Americans possess freedom of assembly and protest, but require permits to exercise these rights.
The actual text of the First Amendment contains no language requiring permits or prior authorization. The amendment explicitly states that Congress shall make no law abridging freedom of speech, press, or the right of people to peaceably assemble.
The Democratic candidate’s interpretation of constitutional rights as requiring government permission stands in direct tension with the plain language of the Bill of Rights, which was designed to limit government power rather than grant conditional privileges to citizens.
Talarico’s embrace of Biden’s constitutional framework signals his alignment with progressive efforts to reinterpret foundational American rights as subject to extensive regulation and government oversight.
With information from Breitbart News
