A Republican party official in Kansas said early July that “offending Muslims is the duty of any civilized person” and added: “Especially with a .45,” according to the Kansas City Star.

The paper reported that the vice chairman of the Kansas GOP’s 3rd Congressional District Committee, Gavin Ellzey, posted the comment to Twitter. He deleted it after receiving calls, saying he wasn’t trying to offend anyone, wouldn’t shoot anyone and doesn’t even own a gun, per the Star.

(Photo credit: Shutterstock / val lawless)