A virtual cottage industry has emerged among people finding James Talarico clips espousing everything from declaring his campaign meat-free, to there being six genders, to God being nonbinary.One recently uncovered video from a meet-and-greet, however, attracted my interest and deepened my concerns about Talarico.It shows Talarico explaining why sweeping gun control laws do not violate the Second Amendment.The reason, he declared, is that the Second Amendment expressly embraces gun control by referring to the right to bear arms as "well regulated."FILE - Texas Democratic Senate candidate and Texas state Rep.
James Talarico argues the Second Amendment supports gun control.((Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-News via Getty Images))INSIDE TRUMP'S UNPRECEDENTED BATTLE PLAN TO EXPAND SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS THROUGH JUSTICE DEPARTMENTIn the clip, Talarico mocks those who oppose gun control measures and appears not to have taken the time to actually read the Amendment:"A lot of politicians like to talk about the Second Amendment.
Very few have actually read the Second Amendment because, if they did, they would know that the words ‘well regulated’ are right there in the text of the amendment itself."What he omits is the word following "well regulated": "militia."It is hardly a long read, so here is the language:"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."The term "well regulated" was not a reference to regulation in the contemporary sense.It was used to mean orderly or well maintained.Militias were considered the backbone of the American military, particularly by those who feared a standing army.
Some militias were less capable than others during the Revolutionary War.A well-regulated militia meant state militias that were combat-ready.The individual right to possess guns was viewed as central to maintaining such militias.
However, the Supreme Court has repeatedly h...