Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s (R) campaign website toned down its language on guns following the deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school last week, CNN reported on Monday
A Feb. 17 version of the page included a section called “Defending the Second Amendment,” which touted highlights such as “removing burdensome restrictions for law-abiding concealed carry licenses,” receiving an endorsement from the National Rifle Association and “opposing Barack Obama’s gun control efforts.”
But the current version of the website has removed all of those highlights — along with a picture of Kasich in what looks like an ammunition store — and changed the title of the section to “Common Sense on the Second Amendment.”
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The new page says that Kasich supports the Second Amendment, but he also “recognizes the need for common-sense solutions to our nation’s problems.”
The changes were first flagged on Twitter by Ohio Public Radio’s statehouse bureau chief, CNN noted.
The revamp comes after Kasich pleaded with President Trump to take action on gun control during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday — four days after 17 people were killed and more than a dozen others were injured when a gunman opened fire at a high school in Parkland, Fla.
“Of course the president can lead on this and should lead on this and Mr. President, I ask you to do this,” he said “You don’t have to boil the ocean, but take some steps now.”
“This is a great opportunity for common-sense steps that can be taken, just in the area of background checks,” Kasich added. “There should be no ability to do a casual sale without somebody having to find out who they’re selling the gun to and what is involved. The president should be for that.”
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Monday that Trump supports a bill co-authored by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) to bolster the federal background check system, though she emphasized that “discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered” to the measure.
Last year, Kasich spoke about the need to come together regarding the national gun control debate. He said he wanted to come up with reasonable solutions and find common ground.