Arizona state Rep. Jay Lawrence apologized Monday for telling a forum on gun control that black and Latino communities are "better armed than the police officers who are supposed to be controlling them."

"I shouldn't have singled out specific communities while discussing the challenges that law enforcement face as they combat gangs and organized crime in our state," the Scottsdale Republican said in a statement. "I certainly didn't intend to denigrate or offend anyone, and I sincerely apologize for my poorly-worded comments."

Lawrence said the episode taught him to choose his words more carefully in the future.

The lawmaker was one of several who attended a town hall in late August hosted by the youth-led advocacy group March for Our Lives Arizona to discuss reducing gun violence.

Asked about crafting gun policy that does not disproportionately target people of color, Lawrence said communities of color have "firearms galore."

"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."

The lawmaker also said people disrespect the police.

"Black and brown communities, black communities in particular, have gangs. And the gangs have to be stopped," he said.

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Lawrence later told The Arizona Republic 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 said.

But, Lawrence added: "I think that was too much."

Still, the comments drew condemnation.

"Some might look or speak differently — they are all Arizonans. Each of whom deserve to be treated with respect by law enforcement AND their elected officials," House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez, D-Tucson, wrote on Twitter on Sept. 6.

Museum removes Lawrence from exhibit

The Arizona Science Center in Phoenix later removed a depiction of Lawrence from an exhibit at the urging of a local educator.

A spokesman for the museum said the video was installed about 15 years ago, before Lawrence, a radio broadcaster, was elected to the Legislature. The video is part of an exhibit that explains the process of building a house.

Brian O'Malley, a spokesman for the museum, said it took notice after receiving several emails about the video after Lawrence's comments.

The center "looked to re-evaluate the content in general of the exhibit," O'Malley said, and temporarily took down the video earlier in the week.

But told of the decision last week by Arizona Capitol Times, Lawrence said: "You know what’s sad is what I said is there are gangs that have better weapons than police. It’s not racial."

Andrew Oxford can be reached at andrew.oxford@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter at @andrewboxford.