The latest reporting on the Republican primary in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District has once again highlighted something gun owners across Texas have been talking about for years: there is a profound difference in how the candidates approach the Second Amendment.
Firearms-manufacturer and grassroots activist Brandon Herrera has drawn national attention for his outspoken opposition to federal gun-control proposals.
According to recent fundraising disclosures reported by the Texas Tribune, Herrera continues to gain significant momentum as he makes the Second Amendment the centerpiece of his advocacy efforts.
On the other side of the policy debate is incumbent Congressman Tony Gonzales, whose record on gun legislation sets him apart from nearly every other Republican in the Texas delegation.
Tony Gonzales’ Lone Vote for the 2022 Federal Gun-Control Package
In 2022, Congress passed the so-called Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a federal gun-control bill negotiated by Senator John Cornyn and President Joe Biden.
The law expanded the national gun registry known as “NICS, incentivized “red flag” gun-confiscation laws, and further weaponized the ATF in its war on gun owners.
Tony Gonzales was the only Republican member of Congress from Texas who voted in favor of that bill — a vote which has been criticized by constitutional-rights advocates statewide for strengthening the same Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) programs currently being challenged in federal court.
Gun owners in TX-23 are now closely examining the implications of Gonzales’ vote as they compare each candidate’s public positions.
Why the Issue Matters to Gun Owners
Gun-rights supporters in Texas have spent years fighting sweeping federal and state proposals such as:
- “Red flag” firearm-confiscation laws
- Expanded federal gun-owner registries
- New bans on commonly owned firearms
- Restrictions on private transfers
- ATF regulatory expansions targeting law-abiding gun owners
During the 2025 legislative session, Texas Gun Rights supporters worked extensively to block red-flag confiscation schemes and reinforce Texas’ position as a constitutional carry state. Grassroots activists understand that federal legislation like the 2022 gun-control deal can directly influence state-level battles.
Herrera has built his public profile on resisting federal gun-control proposals and challenging ATF overreach.
His legislative priorities — should he be elected — are widely understood to focus on repealing federal gun-control measures and restoring protections for lawful gun owners.
Gonzales, by contrast, has defended his vote for the 2022 gun-control bill and remains one of the few Republicans nationally to support that policy approach.
His position aligns him with the Cornyn-Biden coalition that helped advance the legislation.
For gun-rights advocates, this contrast is exactly the type of policy debate they have long said must take place in public view.
Chris McNutt on the Stakes for Gun Owners
Texas Gun Rights President Chris McNutt emphasized the grassroots importance of this policy discussion:
“Gun owners across Texas are laser-focused on the Second Amendment records of every public official. The vote for the Cornyn-Biden gun-control package was a massive setback for our rights, and Texans are demanding lawmakers who will stand up to federal overreach without compromise.”
McNutt’s statement reflects a growing sentiment among Texas gun owners: they are watching, they are engaged, and they will continue holding public officials accountable for their stance on the Second Amendment.
The TX-23 race has become a flashpoint in the broader national fight over gun rights. As the public policy debate continues, Texas Gun Rights will continue mobilizing pro-gun Texans and giving them a full picture of where lawmakers stand on issues that affect their freedoms.
