PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — In the final moments of his annual State of the State address Tuesday night, Gov. Dan McKee promised to push harder for a ban on assault-style weapons. McKee, who has been a strong proponent for gun safety, announced that his budget proposal "will include a ban on assault weapons.” "Let's finally get this done," McKee said. R.I. Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, who previously remained steadfast in his efforts to prevent an assault weapons ban from making it to the governor's desk, recently told The Globe RI's Dan McGowan that he wasn't immediately ruling one out for this legislative session. Melissa Carden, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence, said she's optimistic about Ruggerio's apparent change of heart. "[Ruggerio] indicated that he would not stan in the way of this initiative," she said. "That makes us hopeful." IN-DEPTH: Key takeaways from McKee’s State of the State address Nearly a dozen states have passed laws that prohibit the sale and transfer of semi-automatic weapons, but R.I. Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz warns that the proposed ban is too broad. "Semi-automatics that are widely distributed in this country would be illegal here in Rhode Island," de la Cruz said. "That is unacceptable." She also believes McKee's decision to feature an assault weapons ban in the budget bypasses 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," she said. "It's not from the executive branch, and the governor knows that." The National Institute of Justice estimates that 77% of mass shootings are carried out using hand guns, while 25% involved assault rifles. But research from Brigham and Women's Hospital reveals that number of victims wounded or killed doubled when a semi-automatic weapon was used. "These weapons are particularly barbaric and have no place in civilized society," Carden said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW