As Christie prepped guns plan, NRA sent cash

I guess the National Rifle Association (NRA) isn't mad at Christie for calling its controversial ad featuring the Obama daughters "reprehensible."

On the same day Christie made that comment back in January, he convened a "violence task force" to address the gun issues that were brought to the forefront of the national debate due to the school shootings in Connecticut.

Based on the task force's report, Christie made anti-violence recommendations that gun control advocates said didn't go far enough. Around that time, two donations came in to Christie's gubernatorial re-election campaign from NRA lobbyist Randy Kozuch, campaign records released yesterday show: $2,000 on March 5, as the task force was completing its work, and $1,000 on April 23, a few days after Christie issued his final gun proposals.

The Republican governor is now considering a range of gun control measures sent to him by the Democratic-controlled Legislature. But on the most controversial issue, limiting the capacity of ammunition magazines from 15 rounds to 10, he may not have to make a decision. Democrat Senate President Stephen Sweeney is opposed to lowering the limit. That protects Christie, because it means he won't have to make an NRA-friendly veto of such a bill in an election year in anti-gun New Jersey.

In the mean time Democratic challenger Barbara Buono is focusing on the NRA donation. Moments ago, she sent an email out soliciting donations, saying "a big-time NRA lobbyist is funding" Christie.