John Kasich Wants Gun Control In Wake Of Florida School Shooting

COLUMBUS, OH — Governor John Kasich has shifted his stance on gun control in the wake of the Florida school shooting that left 17 dead. The term-limited Kasich did a televised interview on Sunday saying "action has to happen" on the issue.

"If all the sudden you couldn't buy an AR-15, what would you lose? Would you feel your second amendment rights would be eroded? These are the things that have to be looked at and action has to happen," he Tweeted with a video clip of his interview.

Seventeen people were shot to death and numerous others were injured during a Valentine's Day attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Expelled student Nikolas Cruz purchased his alleged murder weapon legally despite a history of contacts with authorities and bizarre behavior.

Kasich has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and his administration since the two competed for the Republican nomination in 2016. Now Ohio's governor is asking Trump for "small steps" to be taken to prevent another school shooting.

"I'm not calling for some outright ban," Kasich told CNN. "I'm talking about small steps that can be taken that can be effective, and the Congress ought to do it. I just don't -- I don't have any confidence in them. I don't think most Americans do."

Kasich also removed a section from his website touting his track record on supporting pro-gun measurements. In its place is a middle-ground section both announcing the governor's support of some pro-gun legislation and asking for common sense steps to be taken on gun control.

The change in rhetoric earned the scorn of some members of Kasich's party, including his second-in-command.

"All too often in the aftermath of these tragic events, there is knee-jerk reaction to attack the Second Amendment rights of our citizens rather than to address the root causes, which often center around mental illness," Kasich's Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor said in a statement issued this week. "Restricting the rights of law-abiding Ohioans to legally purchase a gun does not do that. Neither does removing your prior support for pro-2nd Amendment legislation from a website."

Gun control activists are also less than convinced that Kasich's sudden 180 on gun control is genuine. They're asking for more proof in the form of state laws and regulations. Still, Kasich is putting pressure on the Trump administration to take action.

"Mr. President, America needs real leadership," Kasich said in a Tweet. "We need to take common sense steps NOW to protect our kids. From one father to another, let’s protect them."

Photo from Governor Kasich's office