MSNBC "All in with Chris Hayes" - Transcript: Guns
Interview
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HAYES: Defending his gun proposal on Twitter this morning, the President, as he so often does, accidentally revealed what really motives his efforts on this issue, not taking a noble stand against gun violence, but politics. "On 18 to 21 age limit, watching court cases and rulings before acting, states are making this decision. Things are moving rapidly on this, but not much political support." I`m joined now by Republican Governor John Kasich of Ohio. And you have been a critic of this President in many respects. What is your reaction to what we`ve seen on this arc on guns?
GOV. JOHN KASICH (R), OHIO: Well, Chris, I think if we go back just two or three months ago, we wouldn`t see any of this. So what is it he`s doing that I think is good? Because I formed a group after the Las Vegas deal, maybe it was even before that. Gun owner, strong Second Amendment, no give, those who felt OK, I support the Second Amendment, but there is a lot of room for change. And they came up with a list of things because I want my legislature to pass something. How does he help me? I think he wants to pass the NICS system. He wants to begin to improve that background checking. Now, I`m for -- I`m for the complete total no loophole, anything but if we can get NICS, my people who run public safety say, you`ll make a huge difference. Let me give you another thing.
HAYES: Just to be clear, NICS is a sort of technical change to the reporting system by which --
KASICH: Yes, I mean, look, I got counties, I have communities where somebody breaks the law, they`re a violent felon, they don`t report.
HAYES: Right.
KASICH: So when somebody gets checked as to whether they can buy a gun, the information is not there.
HAYES: But just to be -- I just want to be clear for folks that are not immersed in this policy issue, NICS is distinct from closing say, the gun show loophole.
KASICH: The gun loophole, the casual sales. I think all things should be checked.
HAYES: You do?
KASICH: Yes, of course, I do. But I got to get something through, OK? So I`m looking for the ground on which I can pass some things. Now if I can get NICS done, and there`s another thing they`re doing that you didn`t mention. And then there`s this gun violence restraining order.
HAYES: Right.
KASICH: That if you go to court and you say somebody can pose a danger to themselves or to somebody else, law enforcement got to court, they can come in and they can actually take the guns. That`s a big deal. I mean, look, I`m just talking to you, not politics, I`m talking to you about what can matter. 18 to 21? I`m for 18 to 21. It`s not in my proposal to the legislature. I couldn`t get the group to agree. But you know, there`s -- we may get there.
HAYES: Wait, let me zip in on that because that -- so you got -- so there is a -- we can make a menu of policy issues, right? And say --
KASICH: Bump stocks. There is another one.
HAYES: Right, what are we --
KASICH: They`re going to get -- they`re going to end bump stocks.
HAYES: They`re saying --
KASICH: I`m told the Justice Department. Look --
HAYES: Although it`s unclear whether the Justice Department has unilateral authority to do that.
KASICH: Which they don`t. I believe in Ohio, we`ll ban them. They did in Florida.
HAYES: So wait. Let me ask you something. Because there`s the sort of policy question here, what are the things we can do and I`m hearing a bunch of ideas and then there is the politics, right? So, you`re someone who has -- you know, you`re talking about raising the age you. Say you would support that, you`re closing loophole, you`re someone who`s been Governor of Ohio, you have an A rating for the NRA. You went from B to A as you ran. You signed a bunch of laws expanding gun ownership, concealed carry in places that serve alcohol, silencers and expanded access to those. Have you had a change of heart? Does something changed in you?
KASICH: No. In 1994 I voted for the assault weapons ban.
HAYES: I know. But that --
(CROSSTALK)
KASICH: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I voted for a assault weapons ban.
HAYES: They didn`t like you.
KASICH: Oh, they didn`t like me at all.
HAYES: They gave you an F.
KASICH: Then, when I ran for Governor they opposed me at every -- each and every way. And that was fine. I beat them. They were -- I mean, they gave me an F in everything else. Now, Chris --
HAYES: Wait a second. Continue the story, because then you went -- you managed to get your way into an A with them.
KASICH: Well, look, I`m not against all guns. I don`t want to take people`s guns and a concealed --
HAYES: Wait, but I`m just asking you for honest --
KASICH: I`m giving -- well, I`m giving you an honest account of it. Concealed carry -- concealed carry is not what has led to this kind of problem. I mean, you have got to get trained in everything. So, I look at any of the legislation that comes. For example, they there is talk about sending these stand your ground. You know what I told them? I`ll veto it. Don`t send it to me. I don`t want to mess with that now. So I look at everything that comes. I thought the assault weapons ban in `94 was a reasonable proposal. The problem with it, it wasn`t effective. So what I`m trying to now is by bringing both sides together. That gives me the best chance of passing something. And I can go -- I can tell you all the things that I`d like to do.
HAYES: OK, but let me make the argument on the other side.
KASICH: Sure.
HAYES: Which is that the then diagram of pass something that can get support, which is extremely narrow, it`s in here, right? Is a function of the political power of a very specific lobbying group that has a very specific conception of the Second Amendment and are very powerful? Isn`t that true?
KASICH: Well, listen, it`s not so simple, Chris. The power is not so much in the organization in Washington called the NRA.
HAYES: No., it`s the people they organize.
KASICH: It`s the people they organize that live in the districts. I just saw a guy today. You know, he`s very concerned about this. Now, if we can eliminate bump stocks, if we can take guns from people who have either mental illness or they`re in a mental turmoil that could cause danger to themselves or somebody else, if we can fix the NICS system, if we can do those things, that`s great gains for us, OK. Now, are there other things to do, absolutely there are other things to do. Now, I don`t know if the Congress will do any of that. I`m hoping we can get this through the legislature. And if we don`t, guess what? They`ll hear from me about this.
HAYES: I would be very interested. We will keep our eyes on what happens in Ohio. We saw what happened in Florida and keep our eyes what happens. Governor, it`s great when you come by in New York. You have an open invitation anytime. Good to see you.
KASICH: OK. Good to be with you. Thank you.
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