Sen. Cruz talks at Leander gun plant

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) - Sen. Ted Cruz was at a Central Texas gun manufacturing plant Tuesday, talking about gun control and protection of Second Amendment rights.

The freshman senator paid a visit to LaRue Tactical , a weapons manufacturer in Leander. Cruz said lawmakers who want to impose tougher federal gun laws are exploiting recent mass shootings like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut.

He said it's important to stand up for the rights of law-abiding citizens who choose to own guns.

"Texans understand the importance of the Second Amendment and I don't think Washington politicians trying to score political points should be taking away a fundamental individual right [that is in] the Bill of Rights," he said.

Cruz questioned the validity of claims from gun control advocates that stricter gun laws lead to lower violent crime rates.

The senator made headlines last month when he wrote a letter to major gun manufacturers and two major banks to encourage them to move their businesses to Texas from Illinois.