At 9:30 p.m. on the eve of his Republican presidential campaign kickoff, Gov.

announced a change to state firearm policy on an issue that has been riling gun rights activists.

The governor also signaled support for loosening New Jersey's strict gun control laws.

Reacting to the June 3 death of 39-year-old Berlin Township woman Carol Bowne, Christie on Monday announced that acting state Attorney General John Hoffman will file a new regulation to require applications for gun permits for victims of domestic violence, other violent crimes or "those living under a direct or material threat" be processed "quickly and without delay."

Those circumstances would also count as a "justifiable need" to obtain an expedited permit to carry firearms — something rarely granted to New Jersey residents who are not retired law enforcement officers.

The governor also signed an executive order to create the New Jersey Firearm Purchase and Permitting Study Commission, tasked with "reviewing the state's laws, regulations and procedures pertaining to the ownership and possession of firearms and ensuring they do not infringe on New Jerseyans' constitutional rights."

Although the Christie administration's official line as recently as 2014 was that the governor "supports New Jersey's already tough gun laws," the executive order takes on a different tone. It says "the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution codifies the pre-existing individual right to possess and carry firearms including for the purpose of self-protection against confrontation, declaring that it shall not be infringed" and that "New Jersey's laws and regulations impose significant restrictions on an individual's ability to purchase, transport, carry, and use firearms within the State."

The three-member commission, which has not yet been appointed, will report back to Christie with recommendations for "appropriate modifications" after 90 days.

Bowne had taken out a domestic violence restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, Michael Eitel, and had in April begun the permitting process to obtain a handgun. She had not yet obtained one when Eitel allegedly stabbed her to death in her driveway. Eitel killed himself days later.

Gun rights advocates protested after the murder, highlighting how difficult it is and how long it takes to get a handgun in New Jersey.

"I have always said that when there are sensible changes to improve our laws and the fair administration of justice, I will take action, and that is what I am doing today," Christie said in a statement. "The Constitution grants and our courts have affirmed the individual right to bear arms as a fundamental right, and that is all the more important for those who are victims of violence or under threat."

New Jersey law requires action to be taken on gun permit applications within 30 days, Christie said. But gun rights advocates say local authorities often take much longer than state law dictates to issue firearm permits.

Under the Christie administration's regulation, the processing time for applications would be reduced to 14 days "when the applicant identifies specific threats or previous attacks which demonstrate a special danger to the applicant's life that cannot be avoided by means other than by issuance of a firearms identification card and a permit to purchase a handgun."

Christie began changing his stance on the state's gun laws as he laid the groundwork for a presidential campaign, saying that he would be open to loosening them if he had a Republican Legislature to work with.

The governor has also reacted to pressure from gun rights advocates in the past. In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shooting, Christie proposed a number of measures aimed at combating gun violence, including a ban on sales of the .50 caliber rifle, which is one of the most powerful guns available to civilians. When the Democrat-led Legislature sent him a bill to do that in 2013, Christie — who had been warned against signing it by a New Hampshire gun rights group — vetoed it.

A spokesman for Christie did not respond to a question about the timing of his announcement.

Christie's action comes just days after the Legislature sent him a bill that would require judges to order those convicted of a domestic violence offense or subject to a final restraining order to turn over their weapons to law enforcement within 24 hours, or sell them.

Former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, an Arizona Democrat who was shot in the head at a 2011 constituent relations event, came to Trenton in March to advocate for the legislation. Christie has not said whether he supports the legislation.

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), the bill's sponsor, said that she would support the governor's regulation if it "pertains only to people who can apply for a right to carry under our current law, and merely sets up an expedited process for persons who are directly threatened with bodily harm, and that it doesn't short-circuit any background check."

"And if the governor is also concerned with domestic violence, I hope he will quickly sign the bill sponsored by Assemblywoman (Gabriela) Mosquera and I which clarifies the process for those who own guns in such situations to make sure they are removed," Weinberg said. "He should support the bill along with this 'new expedited process'"

Matt Friedman may be reached at mfriedman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattFriedmanSL. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.