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WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Amy Schumer took to a podium alongside her cousin, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Monday to push for tighter gun control laws. The actress' first public comments on gun control occur just ten days after a gunman opened fire in a theater showing Schumer's Trainwreck, killing two and injuring eight.
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"We're here to say enough if enough to mass shootings in our schools, our college campuses, our military bases and even our movie theaters," Schumer said. The 34-year-old comedian continued to explain how gun violence as a political issue became "extremely personal" to her when John Russel Houser -- whose name she refused to say -- attacked moviegoers in Lafayette, La., on July 23.
"Two lives were tragically lost...and I thought about these victims each day since the tragedy," Schumer said before asserting that Houser shouldn't have "put his hand on a gun in the first place" due to a considerable history of mental illness.
"Unless something is done and done soon, dangerous people will continue to get their hands on guns," Schumer added. "[Sen. Schumer's proposals] deserves unanimous support."
The actress and Inside Amy Schumer star explained her support of tighter background check policies that rewarded states with funding for sharing information and denied them funding when they refused to. CBS reports Sen. Schumer also proposed that a countrywide survey be completed by the Justice Department to assess each state's standards for involuntary commitment for those with mental illnesses.
The Schumers also advocated for full funding for mental health and substance abuse programs nationwide.
Congress has not acted considerably in terms of gun control laws, but Sen. Schumer believes his proposals -- which his cousin calls "sensible" -- will find support.
"There are so many killings, so many needless killings, that every day the movement grows," he said.
