Republican White House hopeful Ted Cruz accused President Barack Obama of misleading Americans when the president claimed that his executive actions on gun violence are not aimed at taking away people's weapons.

"He's not telling the truth," the Texas senator told CNN on Jan. 6 about the president's assertions. "Look, he's targeting private consensual gun sales between law-abiding citizens, and this is what Obama gets wrong over and over again. He can't distinguish between what good guys and bad guys."

The Tea Party favorite made his comments during a six-day bus tour in the crucial early caucus state of Iowa, where he leads polls over national front-runner Donald Trump. Cruz said he believed Obama's views were in line with that of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein and had little to do with a desire to protect Americans from gun violence.

"[It was] Senator Dianne Feinstein, who said, 'If I could go to Mr. America, Ms. America, and say, "Hand over your guns, I want all of your guns," I would do it,'" Cruz said. "I believe Dianne when she said that. And you know what? Barack Obama is in exactly the same boat."

To further tout the issue, meanwhile, Cruz did not shy away from controversy on Jan. 5 when he protested Obama's actions, which limit firearms sales and add background checks, by giving away an engraved shotgun, The Associated Press reported.

The senator's campaign sent out an email to backers inviting them to enter a free contest to "win my engraved shotgun!" The message included a photograph of Cruz wearing blaze orange hunting gear and holding a weapon.

"You can further support the cause by chipping in $35 (or another amount) after you enter to win my free, engraved shotgun," the campaign noted in a fundraising appeal.

The presidential candidate's campaign website, meanwhile, also focused on the gun issue, which is expected to play big in Iowa and New Hampshire, another key early voting state.

"Obama wants your guns," a headline on the page read on Jan. 7, CNN noted.