This video of Chris Christie talking to the editorial board of the Des Moines Register is absolutely disgraceful.

First, Christie boasts that he is proud to have signed a bill that deprives New Jerseyans who end up on the “terror watch list” of their Second Amendment rights. And then — as casually as can be — he concedes that there are no due process protections for those who have been affected.


Worse, Christie demonstrates that he “understands” how widespread the problems with the systems are, but indicates that he doesn’t especially care. Having cited the bizarre case of Fox’s Stephen Hayes, Christie admits that “from what I understand, it is a very, very difficult thing to be able to work your way off of it.” It should, he suggests, be “easier.” And yet, when asked whether he thinks his endorsement of the bill was a “mistake,” Christie flatly says “no.” Of course there will be people who are unfairly punished, he proposes. But that that is not a good reason to limit the government’s power.

Naturally, I disagree — and strongly. We are talking here, remember, about an enumerated constitutional right. In fact, we are talking about two enumerated constitutional rights: the right to due process and the right to keep and bear arms. If Chris Christie believes that the unfounded suspicions of the executive branch should trump those protections, that is his prerogative. But those voting in the upcoming primaries should think long and hard about whether they agree with him. Do we really want to put a man with this attitude in the Oval Office of the White House?