Christie refuses to weigh in on federal assault weapon ban debate
Credit: Tim Larsen, Governor's Office
Gov. Chris Christie. File photo.
By Matthew Arco | January 17th, 2013 - 3:17pm
| More

TRENTON – If Gov. Chris Christie has an opinion on the federal ban on assault weapons he’s unwilling to discuss it.

The governor declined repeated attempts by reporters to get him to discuss whether he has an opinion on the federal ban. Christie refused to weigh in, telling the Statehouse press corps it’s not his style of leadership.

“Everyone holds themselves to different standards,” Christie said today. “This is the way I choose to conduct myself.”

Christie said his opinion on the matter is largely irrelevant, arguing his position as governor leaves little in the way of steering the national conversation.

"You can ask me as many times as you want and when I believe it’s appropriate for me to give an opinion I’ll give one. But I don’t feel it’s appropriate right now, before I view all of this other stuff, to be giving opinions on this," Christie said. “There’s nothing going on right now in Congress that would lend me to believe that I can have a position of influence on that topic one way or another at the moment."

Christie said if that moment came, he may change his mind and give an opinion.

"But my first job is to take care of my job as governor," he said.

Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: May 17, 2013

  Morning News Digest: Friday, May 17, 2013 By Matthew Arco     Smith intends to fight for HCDO seat as Bernie Kenny's name re-emerges in Fulop era   Mayor Jerry Healy’s loss Tuesday night inevitably triggered intra-party discussions about consequences to the Hudson County...

Op-Ed

Time to have the talk we hope to avoid but can’t

By Tedford J. Taylor No topic is a less likely conversation-starter than our eventual deaths. Still, there is a lot to talk about. When polled, about 90 percent of people presented with end-of-life scenarios prefer the prospect of dying at home with... Read More >

Contributors

Chris Christie's recent "Lab Band" weigh-loss surgery scoop remains the talk of the nation.... more »
(5-15-2013) Interpretation of Election Laws Should Further Aims of Democracy - Five Hoboken residents, obviously orchestrated, filed a lawsuit raising concerns about Carmelo Garcia’s eligibility... more »
Au Revoir, PolitickerNJ.com         Recently, I have been writing fewer columns as a contributing columnist for PolitickerNJ.com.  The reason:  I am busily involved with writing a new book.  The... more »
Women in Politics In 2013 men still earn disproportionally more than women, on average 30%... more »

Quote of the Day

Quote of the day

“You represent the grit and tenacity that make Jersey City special. Thank you for believing in this great American experiment called democracy.” - Jersey City Mayor-elect Steve Fulop, to supporters at his victory party last night.

- PolitickerNJ.com

Poll

Grade Assemblyman John Wisniewski's chairmanship of the Democratic Committee
A. He was fearless; an attack dog and relentless party organizer
5%
B. Wiz was good, but not great.
14%
C. He was fair. I got tired of all the emails.
18%
D. Barely passing marks for an uninspiring leader
27%
F. He seemed more in it for himself than the Democratic Party
36%

Resources

Visit the PolitickerNJ.com/resources page for links to the best collection of information on New Jersey state government.

 

  • Polls
  • The best blogs
  • Columnists
  • State election results
  • Assembly election results
  • Local party websites
  • And more.

PolitickerNJ.com/resources