All weekend long, Republican candidates have been silent on the Bundy boys' takeover of a federal building on a wildlife preserve in Oregon. But today, Ted Cruz finally spoke up.

Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas.) on Monday slammed the protesters who have taken over a federal building in rural Oregon, urging them to lay down their arms.

“Every one of us has a constitutional right to protest, to speak our minds,” Cruz told reporters at campaign event in Iowa, according to NBC News.

“But we don't have a constitutional right to use force and violence and to threaten force and violence on others,” he said. “And so it is our hope that the protesters there will stand down peaceably, that there will not be a violent confrontation.”

Cruz said he is praying for everyone involved in the dispute, particularly law enforcement officials who “are risking their lives.”

Well, now. This is a change in tune from the Ted Cruz of 2014, who was embracing Cliven Bundy as his hero after the militia boys aimed their sniper rifles at federal agents. Back then, he wasn't quite so forthright about his support for law enforcement.

Back then law enforcement was the "jackboot of authoritarianism." Funny how that changes during a presidential campaign, isn't it?

Watch the video below, via Twitter.