(KCEN) -- The right to bear arms continues to be debated on the national stage.
On NBC's Meet the Press this week, U.S. Senator from Texas Ted Cruz pushed back against the idea of the so-called gun-show loophole for gun purchases.
He said the loophole does not exist and all licensed firearm dealers require background checks.
He pointed out only private gun sales do not require the checks.
Cruz also disputed a study showing 40 percent of gun sales are classified as private transactions.
The senator maintained new gun control legislation could compromise constitutional rights.
Cruz said, "There is a point of hypocrisy when it comes to gun control, that many of the proponents of gun control are very wealthy, live in communities where they can outsource police protection, but you have a lot of people who are worried about preserving the safety of their own home."
Cruz also repeated his view that Obama exploited the mass shooting at a Newtown, Conn. school last month to push for new gun control measures.
