“The issue which has energized me to get into this race is the recent attempt by certain Republican legislators to repeal New Jersey’s ban on assault weapons. In today’s society, no one needs a semi-automatic assault weapon.” That’s what current New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said way back in April 14, 1993, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger. Which is a magazine full of not good for the Republican presidential hopeful. Christie faced the anti-gun rights music in the conservative media, as huffingtpost.com reports . . .
When asked by Fox News’ Brett Baier on Tuesday whether it was true that gun control — something no Republican presidential hopeful wants to be associated with — “inspired” him to enter politics, Christie said it was not.
“No, that’s not true. No,” the governor said.
When Baier held up the text of the 1993 Star-Ledger article that included his statement, Christie brushed it off, claiming a hazy memory.
“I don’t remember saying that. So, we’ll see,” he said, adding, “That’s … 22 years ago? I don’t remember. I could’ve. It doesn’t sound like me.”
When Baier asked whether that meant the Star-Ledger had gotten it wrong, Christie responded with some characteristic sarcasm.
“I know it’s never been before,” he said. “No newspaper’s ever been wrong before.”
And Christie’s never been wrong before, either. Oh wait . . .
“I think it’s a lot more complicated than I thought it was at 31 years old, and I’ve learned a lot in the last 21 years. So yeah, a long time ago [I supported an assault weapons ban],” Christie said [in a 2014 CNN interview]. “By the way, I’ve changed a lot of my positions over time. Here’s the thing, if you’re a thinking, breathing human being, and life experience is something you take in, and you never change your mind? Then you’re stubborn.”
On other hand, there are conservatives whose belief in an uninfringed right to keep and bear arms has never wavered, with a solid record of defending it against progressive assault. Need I mention any names?