I just saw the reply of Bret Baier's interview with NJ Gov. Chris Christie.
The whole interview is good but there is an area of particular interest to folks on this board:
Here's a link to the transcript of the whole interview: http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2015/11/25/gov-chris-christie-experience-is-needed-in-white-house/
Here is an excerpt about gun control (found about 3/4 of the way into the transcript):
BAIER: Gun control, is it true that the issue of gun control inspired you to get into politics?
CHRISTIE: No. That's not true. No.
BAIER: Well, in 1993, you said you were motivated to run for office by supporting, preserving New Jersey's assault weapons ban.
(CROSSTALK)
CHRISTIE: You know, I don't remember saying that so, you know, we'll see.
BAIER: "The issue which has motivated me to get into this race is the recent attempt by certain Republican legislators to repeal New Jersey's ban on assault weapons." That was in 1993.
CHRISTIE: That's 22 years ago?
BAIER: Yes.
CHRISTIE: Bret, I don't remember. I could have. It doesn't sound like me.
BAIER: You think the "Star-Ledger" is wrong?
CHRISTIE: I know it's never been before. (INAUDIBLE)
(CROSSTALK)
BAIER: All right, well, let me turn it this way. If you don't think that motivated you like you said.
CHRISTIE: No.
BAIER: .apparently back then --
CHRISTIE: No, I don't think it did. I know it.
BAIER: Where are you now?
CHRISTIE: Well, listen, 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. I vetoed a decrease in the magazine from 15 to 10. We vetoed a ban on the 50-caliber rifle. We vetoed a state-wide I.D. card in New Jersey, all because it didn't increase safety.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think the Governor was hooked by his own petard.
Now, having said that, I have to admit that I grew up in the North East (NY City in particular) and until I had been in the military a number of years - and my own thoughts "evolved" - I regarded "excessively" strong gun rights support/2A arguments as indicative of backward, red neck, racist leanings. I was more supportive of gun rights than most of my peers in NYC but far less than I am now or than most here are.
Mea culpa, mea culpa but the reality is that as kids we were fed a steady diet of what is essentially propaganda designed to form a useful but wholly incorrect understanding of the second amendment. It took years of me being separated from the reinforcing environment of NYC plus contact with many "normal" gun enthusiasts in the military to really dislodge that view. I also owed my father who was always a 2A supporter a big apology at the end.
So does anyone believe that it is truly possible to have one's gun control views evolve? And, has Gov Christie done enough to prove he is now sincere in his support of a vigorous interpretation of the 2A?
The whole interview is good but there is an area of particular interest to folks on this board:
Here's a link to the transcript of the whole interview: http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2015/11/25/gov-chris-christie-experience-is-needed-in-white-house/
Here is an excerpt about gun control (found about 3/4 of the way into the transcript):
BAIER: Gun control, is it true that the issue of gun control inspired you to get into politics?
CHRISTIE: No. That's not true. No.
BAIER: Well, in 1993, you said you were motivated to run for office by supporting, preserving New Jersey's assault weapons ban.
(CROSSTALK)
CHRISTIE: You know, I don't remember saying that so, you know, we'll see.
BAIER: "The issue which has motivated me to get into this race is the recent attempt by certain Republican legislators to repeal New Jersey's ban on assault weapons." That was in 1993.
CHRISTIE: That's 22 years ago?
BAIER: Yes.
CHRISTIE: Bret, I don't remember. I could have. It doesn't sound like me.
BAIER: You think the "Star-Ledger" is wrong?
CHRISTIE: I know it's never been before. (INAUDIBLE)
(CROSSTALK)
BAIER: All right, well, let me turn it this way. If you don't think that motivated you like you said.
CHRISTIE: No.
BAIER: .apparently back then --
CHRISTIE: No, I don't think it did. I know it.
BAIER: Where are you now?
CHRISTIE: Well, listen, 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. I vetoed a decrease in the magazine from 15 to 10. We vetoed a ban on the 50-caliber rifle. We vetoed a state-wide I.D. card in New Jersey, all because it didn't increase safety.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think the Governor was hooked by his own petard.
Now, having said that, I have to admit that I grew up in the North East (NY City in particular) and until I had been in the military a number of years - and my own thoughts "evolved" - I regarded "excessively" strong gun rights support/2A arguments as indicative of backward, red neck, racist leanings. I was more supportive of gun rights than most of my peers in NYC but far less than I am now or than most here are.
Mea culpa, mea culpa but the reality is that as kids we were fed a steady diet of what is essentially propaganda designed to form a useful but wholly incorrect understanding of the second amendment. It took years of me being separated from the reinforcing environment of NYC plus contact with many "normal" gun enthusiasts in the military to really dislodge that view. I also owed my father who was always a 2A supporter a big apology at the end.
So does anyone believe that it is truly possible to have one's gun control views evolve? And, has Gov Christie done enough to prove he is now sincere in his support of a vigorous interpretation of the 2A?
