New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday called on the US Congress to pass a nationwide ban on assault weapons after a lone gunman killed four people in central Manhattan, CNN reports.

"Yesterday, four innocent people were killed in a horrific act of violence in New York City. Among them was New York Police Officer Didarul Islam, a three-year veteran who is survived by his wife, who is eight months pregnant, and two young sons. My heart goes out to his loved ones, his family in the New York Police Department, and every victim of this tragedy,“ Hochul said in a statement.

She specified that the shooter ”used an AR-15 assault rifle. The same weapon was used in mass shootings across America."

The governor emphasized that despite her state having some of the strictest gun laws in the country, it was not enough to prevent the deadly shooting.

"New York has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. We banned assault weapons. We strengthened our red flag law. We closed dangerous loopholes. But our laws only apply when an AR-15 can be purchased in a state with weak gun laws and brought into New York to commit mass murder," the New York governor said in a statement. “The time to act is now. The American people are tired of thinking and praying. They deserve action. Congress must have the courage to stand up to the gun lobby and finally enact a national ban on assault weapons before more innocent people are killed.”