(MCT) — TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie blasted the NRA’s new ad focusing on President Barack Obama’s daughters — he called it “reprehensible” — but he wouldn’t given an opinion about a proposed federal assault weapons ban.

Christie’s extensive comments on the issues of guns and violence came during a news conference Thursday at the New Jersey Statehouse in which Christie announced the creation of a task force to examine “violence control” measures in the wake of the shooting massacre in Sandy Hook, Conn.