Christie veto showdown brings his gun positions to light

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — As a young lawyer running for elected office for the first time, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said he was motivated to get into the 1993 state Senate race because of Republican lawmakers' attempts to repeal the state's ban on assault weapons.

Christie has distanced himself from his state's tough gun laws on the campaign trail, and what he calls his evolving views on the Second Amendment have riled up New Jersey Democrats who say he's pandering to a more conservative electorate out of state.

The change set up a showdown Thursday with New Jersey Democrats trying to override his veto of a bill that would require law enforcement to be notified when potential gun-buyers seek to expunge mental health records.

New Jersey Democrats say Christie — whose New Hampshire-focused strategy is beginning to show signs of life — vetoed the bill because he wants to appease conservative Republican presidential primary voters, while Christie argues that this issue should become part of a more comprehensive approach to mental-health treatment.

In 2013, he signed nearly a dozen bills restricting firearms, including one that bars individuals on the federal terror watch list from buying guns.

[...] he has taken action that he argues shows strong support of the Second Amendment, including vetoing some of the more contentious gun bills.