New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie hammered President Barack Obama Sunday over his plan to issue executive actions on gun control in the upcoming week, referring to him as a "petulant child" who wants to act like "a king" or "as if he is a dictator" whenever "he can't get what he wants." The Republican presidential candidate told Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday that, as president, he would overturn Obama's measures, even before knowing what they are.
"The fact is, if he wants to make changes to these laws, go to Congress and convince the Congress that they're necessary," said Christie, according to The Hill. "But this is going to be another illegal executive action, which I'm sure will be rejected by the courts, and when I become president will be stricken from executive action."
Wallace pressed Christie to answer critics who have pointed out that the New Jersey governor has changed course on guns in his own state, a notion that Christie rejected. Instead, he argued that he sought to balance the Second Amendment with keeping the best interests of his constituents in mind.
“I haven’t changed my tune, Chris. In fact, I signed the bill that banned guns for people on the terror watch list. As president, I would make sure that the terror watch list was actually accurate. But I think most Americans believe if you’re on the terror watch list, you shouldn’t be able to buy guns," he said, according to Politico.
Christie added: "But I also have vetoed the 50-caliber rifle ban, I’ve also vetoed a statewide ID system. I’ve also vetoed a reduction in the magazine ban, and I’ve also pardoned six different folks so far who have been caught up very unfairly in my view in New Jersey’s gun laws. So listen, the approach I’m going to take is to protect Second Amendment rights but also to make decisions that are in the best interests of the people of New Jersey."
Obama announced this week that he will go forward with a set of executive actions on guns in the upcoming week. The president will meet with Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch on Monday before announcing his final proposal, The Washington Post reported.
