TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday quashed a Democrat-backed roll back of a personalized handgun law the sponsor hoped would shake loose investment in smart gun technology in New Jersey.

The pocket veto, in which governors can allow legislation to die if it was passed at the end of the two-year session, was offered without commentary. The state Legislature does not have an opportunity to override pocket vetoes.

State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), who sponsored the bill, said Christie's action was not much of a surprise but "a little mystifying, because by his pocket vetoing of this legislation he keeps the current law on the books, which is much more stringent."

"(Christie) might have to explain to somebody in New Hampshire that he signed something that has to do with guns, even though it's a rolling back of current law," she continued. "We are not dealing in rational behavior here. We are dealing with a presidential aspirant who has no problem changing his views moment by moment."

Weinberg was also behind a 2002 state law requiring that only personalized handguns be offered for sale three years after they are properly vetted and on the market. The aim of the law was to stem accidental shootings and "child proof" the weapons.

According to the Center for Disease Control, 505 people were killed by the accidental discharge of a firearm in 2013, including 30 children under 3 years old.

But 14 years after New Jersey's law was enacted, so-called smart guns still are not available anywhere in the U.S. Gun rights activists have exerted pressure on gun dealers so the clock wouldn't start on New Jersey's three-year countdown.

Weinberg had hoped loosening the mandate to require only that retailers offer at least one model for sale would clear the way for development of smart guns. Opponents of both bills said the market should be allowed to emerge without government intervention and that the technology is unreliable.

Scott L. Bach, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, called the bill a "transparent ploy to force market acceptance of this dangerous and unproven technology" and welcomed the governor's veto.

But concerns about the technology's readiness ignore the particulars of the mandate, which says the handguns must be vetted by the Attorney General's Office before they can be offered for sale, Weinberg countered.

The senator said she plans to reintroduce the bill this year, when the Democratic-led Legislature is better positioned to override the governor.

"Maybe this time the governor will stay around New Jersey long enough to see what it is he's pocket vetoing," she said.

A spokesman for Christie did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Christie has said previously he doesn't think the technology exists and the law should be repealed.

Weinberg has publicly offered to repeal the 2002 law entirely, provided the NRA remove any barriers. She said she's received no response.

"Not until when and if I get something from the leadership of the NRA, I realize that no organization can control all of its members or followers, but I want a commitment from the leaders of the NRA that they will do nothing to stop the research, development, manufacture or distribution of this technology," she said.

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.