Gov. Dan McKee (D-R.I.) announced on Tuesday that he is planning to include a “ban on assault weapons” as part of the state’s budget.
During McKee’s State of the State Address on Tuesday, the Democratic governor outlined how state lawmakers have worked to pass gun control laws over the past several years. However, he claimed that the gun control laws passed by the state are “not enough.”
“Together, the gun safety champions in the General Assembly have helped us pass safe storage laws, banned high-capacity magazines, raised the age to buy guns to 21, and prohibited open carry of rifles and shotguns,” McKee said. “That’s real progress, but it’s not enough.”
The governor, who previously introduced a bill to ban semi-automatic weapons in Rhode Island, told state lawmakers that the ban will be included in this year’s budget.
“Year after year, I’ve stood here and asked the General Assembly to send an assault weapons ban to my desk,” McKee added. “This year, I’m sending you a budget to the General Assembly that – for the first time – will include a ban on assault weapons. Let’s finally get this done!”
READ MORE: City requires residents to own guns, ammo
WPRI reported that the Democratic governor’s proposal to ban semi-automatic weapons was quickly met with criticism from Rhode Island Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, who presented the Republican response to Tuesday’s State of the State Address.
“Semi-automatics that are widely distributed in this country would be illegal here in Rhode Island,” de la Cruz stated. “That is unacceptable.”
According to WPRI, de la Cruz also argued that McKee’s plan to include the gun ban in the state budget goes against the legislative process.
“There used to be a little show called ‘Schoolhouse Rock,’ and there was a song about how a bill comes to be,” the Republican state senator said. “It’s not from the executive branch, and the governor knows that.”
“Perhaps he needs a civics lesson,” de la Cruz added. “Legislation is crafted and debated by the General Assembly … not hidden in the state’s budget.”