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.