LINCOLN, R.I. (WLNE) — One day after Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee’s 2025 State of the State address, he responded to criticism of his unique strategy to enhance gun control measures. “This year, I’m sending a budget to the general assembly that, for the first time, will include a ban on assault weapons,” McKee said in his address. Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz expressed concern about the proposed ban in the Republican response. “If the governor wants to push gun control, perhaps he needs a civics lesson,” she said. “Legislation is crafted and debated by the general assembly.” ABC6 News spoke to McKee at the Rhode Island Hospitality Association’s Anchors Awards at Bally’s in Lincoln on Wednesday, asking for his response to de la Cruz. “I would expect that from the Republicans on the State of the State response,” McKee said. The governor addressed why he felt compelled to include the ban in the budget, as opposed to submitting legislation to the General Assembly. “We’ve attached it to a financial piece,” McKee said. “Which is eliminating the tax on the safe storage purchases for the guns that was passed for safe storage, so we think it’s connected.” Unity was a major theme in McKee’s State of the State address, and the governor was asked whether that could prove to be more of a challenge after hearing the Republican response. “When you prepare a response before you hear the speech, I think they were off on a number of items that they were talking about,” McKee said. “The Rhode Island 2030 plan is a real good plan,” he continued. “I would encourage everyone in the state to read it and see what we’re trying to get done, including the Republican Party, as well as the Democratic Party.” McKee also addressed backlash after protesters were blocked from the State House rotunda during his speech. Harrison Tuttle, the president of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island PAC and one of the protest organizers, said on social media Wednesday that the governor prevented Rhode Islanders from exercising their first amendment rights. Rhode Island Capital Police prevented Rhode Islanders from using their First Amendment rights at yesterday’s People’s State of the State, per @GovDanMcKee orders. Here is the exchange: pic.twitter.com/oqlBe0qkJx — Harrison Tuttle (@_HarrisonTuttle) January 15, 2025 “I’m not going to get into details of a security issue when you have such a gathering of leadership,” McKee said. “We provided them a safe place to have their rally, they did do that, we wanted to make sure they had that opportunity and they did.” The governor plans to release his full budget plan on Thursday. Categories: News, Rhode Island