Rep. Tony Gonzales uses derogatory term to describe gun buyback program

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)--  Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales used a derogatory term for mentally impaired individuals to describe the final gun buyback event being held in El Paso.

He reposted a social media post on the platform X about the event saying:

"Tell me you’re r******* without telling me you’re r*******. These gimmicks never work. How about instead hire more police officers?"

Then hours later he posted in response to criticism he was getting from his original post:

"Honestly didn’t know there was a “r-word” hard to keep up with all the woke-ism. And I’m not talking about a person with a disability. I’m referring to a r***** who thinks gun buy backs work. How about you help hire additional police officers for El Paso instead of trying to defund them!"

Democratic Congresswoman Veronica Escobar called the remarks "shameful and disgusting."

"He chose to try and denigrate El Paso county and in the process not only did he try to denigrate the community he represents in Congress but he used a term that good people do not use... that people who understand intellectual disabilities do not use," Escobar stated.

The CEO of the Paso Del Norte Children's Development Center, Al Velarde spoke to ABC-7 calling the remarks shameful.

"It's no longer something that is used. And it's like I say, it's to me, it's you might as well use the N-word, too. And is that where we're going? I guess that's my thing. Is that where we're going now? Are we going back to that? I think it's shameful," said Velarde.

El Pasoan State Rep. Joe moody posted in part quote: "If you know or love anyone with an intellectual or developmental disability, you know how ugly and hurtful this word is."

El Paso County will hold its final gun buyback this Saturday. A new state law will make buy back events illegal in Texas starting in September.

ABC-7 has reached out to Gonzales for comment, he has not gotten back to us.