By Andrew Oxford | Arizona Republic
An Arizona lawmaker told a forum on gun control last week that black and Hispanic communities are “better armed than the police officers who are supposed to be controlling them.”
State Rep. Jay Lawrence, a Scottsdale Republican, walked back the comments when reached Thursday by The Arizona Republic.
At the event, organized Aug. 29 by March for Our Lives Arizona, Lawrence was asked about crafting gun policy that does not disproportionately target people of color.
“Black and brown communities, if you look at the weapons that they have, they are not licensed,” Lawrence said. “They are better armed than the police officers who are supposed to be controlling them. They have firearms galore.”
The lawmaker said people disrespect the police.
“Black and brown communities, black communities in particular, have gangs. And the gangs have to be stopped,” he said.
Lawrence’s comments were first reported by Cronkite News.
The lawmaker said Thursday that he was not fair when he spoke.
“Gangs do have armaments, and in many instances better armaments, than the police who are supposed to be controlling them,” he added.
But, Lawrence added: “I think that was too much.”
