In the state with possibly the most convoluted and constitutionally erroneous process of obtaining a permit to carry a pistol, the governor has come out in favor of concealed carry. In a recent interview with Sean Hannity on FOX News, presidential candidate Chris Christie, openly advocated for concealed carry and cited his seven years as a federal prosecutor as the reason why he’s changing his tune.
“Well, listen, in 1995, Sean, I was 32 years old, and I’ve changed my mind,” Mr. Christie told Sean Hannity, Politico reported. “And the biggest reason that I changed my mind was my seven years as a federal prosecutor. What I learned in those seven years was that we were spending much too much time talking about gun laws against law-abiding citizens and not nearly enough time talking about enforcing the gun laws strongly against criminals.”
Strong words. Christie’s council has also pushed ahead a study authored by several of his old cohorts which suggests that the permitting process in New Jersey ought be subject to severe scrutiny after several facets of it were found to be largely unconstitutional.
“And, quite frankly, if I had the choice now, I’d make New Jersey a state where you could have a shall-issue on conceal and carry,” he said. “Now, our Legislature won’t do that, but what I have done recently is to make sure that we’re making it easier for folks to be able to get a permit in New Jersey because they deserve the right to do that as law-abiding citizens.”
Before we just dig into Christie’s backside about that last quote, a very certain half-truth when it comes to the enforcement of New Jersey’s regulations (an executive branch decision), let’s take a brief moment to thank the governor for correctly pardoning Brian Fletcher — an honest guy from North Carolina who happened to get caught on the wrong side of New Jersey’s draconian gun laws while responding to a state emergency.
It’s not the first time Chris Christie has pardoned out-of-state people who’ve gotten a rude awakening as to the laws in New Jersey. That said, New Jersey is the reason for those horribly wounding infractions in the first place.
Driving through Pennsylvania and accidentally cross the line into New Jersey with your concealed carry handgun? Welcome to a felony offense and facing upwards of 10 years in prison.
That’s ridiculous. Nobody should lose his life, his livelihood, his home, his job, and serve a decade in prison for crossing an imaginary line.
And now, because of that aforementioned study and Chris Christie’s words to Sean Hannity on FOX News — we’re supposed to pretend that everything is moving comfortably forward?
That’s total, complete BS!
Chris Christie is no where closer to making New Jersey a “shall permit” state or opening up reciprocity to other states. That’s not even a goal because he honestly doesn’t plan on heading up New Jersey — he’s looking towards becoming POTUS. And, to be perfectly honest, in a normal election cycle where Donald Trump wasn’t on the Republican ticket, he may have even been a consideration for the job. But the year is 2016 and Chris Christie, as a republican candidate for the POTUS ticket is dead in the water. And he’s going to return to New Jersey after this election cycle is over and he’s going to continue to preside as the governor of New Jersey. And I will put my bottom dollar on the truth that he will not change New Jersey’s gun laws one iota towards a more open, free, and safe democratic state during his remaining years as governor.
And every single time, he’ll point to the legislature as his whipping boy and say, “oh I can’t do anything — they won’t budge.”
How very convenient, Mr. Christie.
And in the meantime, next time some 21-year-old Pennsylvanian boy crosses the border or some Florida retiree happens to have his handgun somewhere in the back of his RV, I’m sure your state patrol officers will be all too quick to inform those gentlemen that their lives are effectively #rekt.