An outspoken North Texas lawman took to Facebook after Monday's deadly bombing in England to warn residents a similar attack could happen here.

Denton County Sheriff Tracy Murphree (Julian Gill / Denton Record-Chronicle)

"This is what happens when you disarm your citizens," Denton County Sheriff Tracy Murphree wrote. "When you open your borders without the proper vetting. When you allow political correctness to dictate how you respond to an enemy that wants to kill you."

At least 22 people were killed and more than 50 were injured in the explosion outside an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. The Islamic State claimed the attacker — whom police identified as 22-year-old Salman Abedi, who was born in Manchester — as one of its own.

Murphree's post continues: "You better wake up America. While you are distracted by the media and the crying of the left, Islamic Jihadist are among us and want to kill you. What will it take? This happening at a concert in Dallas or a school in Denton County?

"If we don't do something quick this country will die of political correctness and the fear that someone's feelings may be hurt. It may very well be to late for Europe."

Murphree took office in January after campaigning to bring a culture change to the Sheriff's Department. Colleagues have noted better relationships with fellow law-enforcement agencies and more accountability within the department.

But the former Texas Ranger has been criticized in the past for his Facebook posts.

In April 2016, Murphree wrote about what he saw as "craziness" over news stories about transgender people and bathrooms. North Carolina's governor had recently signed a so-called bathroom bill into law; it was later partially repealed.

"If my little girl is in a public women's restroom and a man, regardless of how he may identify goes into that bathroom," he posted. "He will then identify as a John Doe until he wakes up in what ever hospital he may be taken to. Your identity does not trump my little girls safety."

Murphree, who said he identified "as a over protective father," later said the post was a mistake and removed it, while noting that he didn't want transgender women to use women's restrooms.

"I regret saying I'm going to go ahead and assault someone," he told WFAA-TV (Channel 8). "I will not do that without cause."

The Texas House approved its own "bathroom bill" this week. The measure would prevent transgender children at public schools from using multi-person restrooms that do not match the gender on the child's birth certificate.

Murphree has previously posted about Islamic terrorists, writing in a mock "terror alert" in November that the Islamic State and al-Qaeda are not welcome in Texas — a place with "a proud tradition of courage and strength."

"You will be met with a gun behind every tree every rock every blade of grass," he wrote. "You will be met with a violence you have never seen."

After telling extremists to stay out of Texas, Murphree concluded: "PS. Where your going there are no virgins waiting for you. Just saying."