Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP MORE (R-Texas) knocked the Virginia attorney general’s Tuesday announcement that the commonwealth will stop recognizing concealed carry permits that were issued in more than two-dozen other states.

The Republican presidential candidate, making a campaign stop in Nashville, Tenn., blasted Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring’s (D) decision, which will take effect Feb. 1, to no longer observe permits issued in 25 states that have weaker gun laws than Virginia’s.

“That’s the consequences when you elect Democrats to power, and friends don’t let friends vote Democrat,” Cruz told the crowd.

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He continued, “When they get in power, they come and try to take your guns.”

Gun control has been thrust to the forefront following mass shootings at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic and in San Bernardino, Calif. Cruz is a staunch defender of gun rights and has made the Second Amendment a pinnacle of his campaign.

The Texas senator rolled out a Second Amendment gun coalition at an Iowa shooting range two days after the California shooting and linked gun rights as a way to strengthen national security.

"It’s these constitutional rights that keep us safe," Cruz told supporters in Iowa. "You don’t stop bad guys by taking away our guns. You stop bad guys by using our guns."

Cruz has surged in national polls to second place and even surpasses Trump in Iowa GOP primary polls, according to RealClearPolitics average.

Tennessee holds its primaries during Super Tuesday on March 1.