Comedienne Amy Schumer and her cousin, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), have joined forces in a new push for laws that crack down on gun violence.
The "Trainwreck" star made an emotional call for gun control reform during a Monday morning press conference in New York that introduced the senator's three-part legislative gun control plan.
"We're here today to say 'enough is enough' to mass shootings in our schools, our college campuses, our military bases and even our movie theaters," Amy Schumer said. "These shootings have got to stop. I don't know how else to say it."
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Amy Schumer's comments come roughly two weeks after a man named John Houser allegedly shot two women to death and then killed himself during a screening of "Trainwreck" at a movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana. In the days since, Schumer hinted she would be pushing for greater gun control.
She refused to even say Houser's name during the Monday conference, and noted, "This man shouldn't have been able to put his hands on a gun in the first place."
Amy Schumer said her cousin's legislation "deserves unanimous support," and supported it as a common-sense approach to gun control.
"The critics scoff and say, 'There's no way to stop crazy people from doing crazy things,' but they're wrong," she said, noting, "These are not extreme ideas."
Sen. Schumer's proposed legislation would set up monetary rewards for states that submit all necessary records into the background check system and penalize states that don't. The plan also calls for Congress to improve mental health funding and funding for substance abuse programs
After mentioning Jillian Johnson and Mayci Breaux, the two women killed in the Lafayette theater shooting, Amy Schumer recalled being "completely devastated" by the news of the shooting -- but also angry.
"We'll never know why people choose to do these painful things, but sadly, we often find out how," she said of her cousin's proposal. "Today's push makes so much sense because it addresses the 'how.'"
As Deadline notes, Amy Schumer is slated to appear Monday night as one of Jon Stewart's final guests on "The Daily Show" and is expected to talk more about gun control then.
"These are my first public comments on gun violence," she said. "But I can promise you, they won't be my last."
Also on HuffPost:
Pivotal Moments In The U.S. Gun Control Debate
1981: The Attempted Assassination Of President Ronald Reagan(01 of08)
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On March 30, 1981, President Reagan and three others were shot and wounded in an assassination attempt by John Hinckley, Jr. outside the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Reagan's press secretary, Jim Brady, was shot in the head. (credit:NBC via Getty Images)
1993: The Brady Handgun Violence Act (02 of08)
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The Brady Handgun Violence Act of 1993, signed into law by President Bill Clinton, mandated that federally licensed dealers complete comprehensive background checks on individuals before selling them a gun. The legislation was named for James Brady, who was shot during an attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
1994: The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act(03 of08)
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The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994, instituted a ban on 19 kinds of assault weapons, including Uzis and AK-47s. The crime bill also banned the possession of magazines holding more than ten rounds of ammunition. (An exemption was made for weapons and magazines manufactured prior to the ban.)
2007: The U.S. Court of Appeals For The District Of Columbia Rules In Favor Of Dick Heller(04 of08)
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In 2007 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled to allow Dick Heller, a licensed District police officer, to keep a handgun in his home in Washington, D.C. Following that ruling, the defendants petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.
2008: Supreme Court Strikes Down D.C. Handgun Ban As Unconstitutional(05 of08)
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In June of 2008, the United States Supreme Court upheld the verdict of a lower court ruling the D.C. handgun ban unconstitutional in the landmark case District of Columbia v. Heller.
Gabrielle Giffords And Trayvon Martin Shootings(06 of08)
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Gun control advocates had high hopes that reform efforts would have increased momentum in the wake of two tragic events that rocked the nation. In January of 2011, Jared Loughner opened fire at an event held by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), killing six and injuring 13, including the congresswoman. Resulting attempts to push gun control legislation proved fruitless, with neither proposal even succeeding in gaining a single GOP co-sponsor. More than a year after that shooting, Florida teenager Trayvon Martin was gunned down by George Zimmerman in an event that some believed would bring increased scrutiny on the nation's Stand Your Ground laws. While there has been increasing discussion over the nature of those statutes, lawmakers were quick to concede that they had little faith the event would effectively spur gun control legislation, thanks largely to the National Rifle Association's vast lobbying power. Read more here: (credit:Samantha Sais / Reuters)
Colorado Movie Theater Shooting(07 of08)
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In July of 2012, a heavily armed gunman opened fire on theatergoers attending a midnight premiere of the final film of the latest Batman trilogy, killing 12 and wounding scores more. The suspect, James Eagan Holmes, allegedly carried out the act with a number of handguns, as well as an AR-15 assault rifle with a 100-round drum magazine. Some lawmakers used the incident, which took place in a state with some of the laxest gun control laws, to bring forth legislation designed to place increased regulations on access to such weapons, but many observers, citing previous experience, were hesitant to say that they would be able to overcome the power of the National Rifle Association and Washington gun lobby. (credit:Rick Wilking / Reuters)
Sikh Temple Shooting(08 of08)
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On August 5, 2012, white supremacist Wade Michael Page opened fire on a Sikhs gathered at a temple in Oak Creek, Wis., killing six and wounding four more before turning the gun on himself. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
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