On Sunday, Ohio Gov. John Kasich on CNN’s State of the Union called for national leaders to step up and make changes while hinting he may support a ban on the sale of a weapon used in the Florida school shootings. Such a stance would constitute a major reversal for Kasich.
RELATED: Kasich bashes Congress, seeks common sense gun laws
Among the highlights in the pro-gun Buckeye Firearms Association’s statement:
-Gun owners "ARE doing something. We've been doing something for years," according to Dean Rieck, its executive director.
-The BFA has various activities "to directly address violence in schools, reduce suicides, promote gun safety, and support enforcement of gun laws."
-One program - FASTER Saves Lives - provides educators with intensive violence response and trauma first aid training. Funded by private donations, more than 1,300 teachers and staff, including educators in 76 of Ohio's 88 counties.
-The association provides training to deter or stop mass murderers in schools and works with the Ohio Department of Mental Health to promote suicide awareness and prevention.
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Among Kasich’s points:
-He has "no confidence" Congress will approve what he called "common sense gun laws" in the wake of the Florida mass shooting. He suggested President Trump should take the lead.
-Indicated he would support "reasonable things," such as full background checks for people buying guns and banning what are known as bump stocks, which allow a semi-automatic weapon to fire like an automatic weapon.
-Still supports the Second Amendment, but wants legislators to examine reasonable steps "that can be done to answer these young people."
-Said he thought it was possible to push for some measures at the state and local level, like background checks and increased attention to mental illness.
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