WATCH: Amy Schumer Joins Chuck Schumer for Gun Violence Prevention Presser
Following last month’s deadly shooting at a Lafayette, Louisiana screening of her new film Trainwreck, comedian Amy Schumer has decided to join forces with her cousin, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in the fight for stricter gun control measures.
Sen. Schumer announced on Twitter Monday morning that they would holding a press conference in Manhattan to unveil a new three-part plan to prevent gun violence:
74% of Americans want stronger background checks. Joining @amyschumer to call on my colleagues in Congress to finally listen. More at 11.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 3, 2015
Mashable’s Colin Daileda reported details live from the event:
They're calling it a "Schumer and Schumer" announcement. pic.twitter.com/wITGLhOkCt
— Colin Daileda (@ColinDaileda) August 3, 2015
The Schumers are proposing 3 things.
1. Rewards/penalties for states who do/don't submit all bkg check records for gun purchases.
— Colin Daileda (@ColinDaileda) August 3, 2015
2. They want Congress to fully fund the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
— Colin Daileda (@ColinDaileda) August 3, 2015
3. And they want the Dept. of Justice to write a report comparing state standards for "involuntary commitment" to mental health facilities.
— Colin Daileda (@ColinDaileda) August 3, 2015
"I have a lot of press conferences but I almost never get this much attention," Chuck Schumer says as he thanks Amy. pic.twitter.com/okQlw3idHe
— Colin Daileda (@ColinDaileda) August 3, 2015
“We always find out how the shooter got their gun and it’s always something that never should have happened,” Amy Schumer said when it was her turn to speak. “Critics scoff and say there’s no way to stop crazy people from doing crazy things, but they’re wrong.”
On the night of the shooting, Schumer tweeted the following message in response:
My heart is broken and all my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Louisiana.
— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) July 24, 2015
Over the weekend, Sarah Clements, the daughter of Sandy Hook survivor, published an open letter to Schumer that called on women to “lead the gun violence prevention movement.” She wrote, “Amy Schumer, I and many other millennials look up to you so much. You are our generation’s epitome of what it means to be a strong, powerful, self-aware champion for the experiences and truths of being a woman and an American today.”
In a preview of today’s announcement, Schumer tweeted in response:
@cdickason11 @sfclem Her name was Mayci, not Marci and I think about her and Jillian everyday. Don't worry I'm on it. You'll see.
— Amy Schumer (@amyschumer) August 1, 2015
UPDATE — 1:10 p.m. ET: Watch Amy Schumer’s full remarks below, via Yahoo:
[Photo via screengrab]
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