Natalie DiBlasio

USA TODAY

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., is apologizing for joking about gun owners putting a "bull’s-eye” on Hillary Clinton.

“Nothing made me feel any better then — I walked into a gun shop ... there was a copy of Rifleman on the counter, it's got a picture of Hillary Clinton on the front of it,” Burr said, referring to American Rifleman, the official publication of The NRA. "I was a little bit shocked at that it didn't have a bull’s-eye on it."

Burr continued: "But on the bottom right, it had everybody for federal office in this particular state that they should vote for. So let me assure you, there’s an army of support out there right now for our candidates.”

Burr, the Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, was speaking to GOP volunteers in Moorseville, N.C., on Saturday when he made the comment.

"The comment I made was inappropriate, and I apologize for it," Burr said in a Monday statement to CNN, which first reported the story.

Burr is in a tight race for his seat against former Democratic state senator Deborah Ross in North Carolina.

Donald Trump drew criticism in August for suggesting that "Second Amendment people" could stop Clinton from appointing anti-gun judges. Trump, speaking at a rally in Wilmington, N.C., warned that Clinton opposes the Second Amendment and would appoint Supreme Court justices who would block gun rights.

"If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks,” Trump said before adding: "Though the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know.”

Minutes later, the Trump campaign issued a statement saying that Trump meant people who support the Second Amendment are unified and will vote together. Meanwhile, Democrats — including Clinton — quickly accused Trump of suggesting violence against the Democratic nominee.