During the November 24 airing of Special Report with Bret Baier, Governor Chris Christie (R) denied that he entered politics to push gun control, only to have Baier read a 1993 quote of Christie’s saying he was running for office to fight for an “assault weapons” ban.
Baier asked Christie, “Is it true that the issue of gun control inspired you to get into politics?”
Christie paused a moment, then answered, “No, that’s not true.”
Baier continued pressing, “Well, in 1993, you said you were motivated to run for office by supporting preserving New Jersey’s assault weapons ban.” Baier then named the The Star-Ledger as the paper that ran the quote, and Christie interjected, “Well, I don’t remember saying that.” Baier then read the quote—from April 13, 1993—in which Christie said, “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.”
When Baier finished reading the quote, Christie responded, “Listen, that was 22 years ago. Bret, I don’t remember. I could have. It doesn’t sound like me.”
Baier then asked, “Well, if you don’t think that motivated you then, where are you now?” And Christie responded by saying, “My record is really clear on this. In New Jersey, we have taken a lot of steps to make sure that gun rights are protected in New Jersey.” He pointed to vetoes of a 15-round magazine ban, of a .50 caliber rifle ban, and of “a statewide ID card.”
Christie did not talk about the June 3 death of Carol Bowne, a woman who was stabbed to death by her former boyfriend over a month after she applied for state’s permission to own a handgun for self-defense. She was still waiting for the state to respond when her former boyfriend stabbed her to death.
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.
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