Amy Schumer teams with cousin Chuck for more gun control after Trainwreck shooting

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Amy joined her cousin - New York Senator Chuck Schumer - on Monday as he unveiled a three-part gun plan
He wants to make it harder for criminals and the mentally ill to obtain guns
Amy broke down in tears as she spoke about the Louisiana movie theater shooting that killed two women during a screening of her movie Trainwreck
'These shootings have got to stop... I don't know how else to say it,' the actress told the crowd

By Associated Press and Belinda Robinson For Dailymail.com

Published: 09:23 EST, 3 August 2015 | Updated: 16:13 EST, 3 August 2015

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Stand-up comedian Amy Schumer has formed a partnership with her cousin New York senator Charles 'Chuck' Schumer to call for tighter gun control.

The actress joined the senator, who is her second cousin, on Monday as he unveiled a three-part plan that would make it harder for violent criminals and the mentally ill to obtain guns.

The pair cited the recent shooting in a Louisiana movie theater that killed two women and injured nine others during a screening of Amy's movie 'Trainwreck'.

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Partnership: Stand-up comedian Amy Schumer has formed an unlikely partnership with her cousin New York Senator Chuck Schumer to call for tighter gun control

Tears: Schumer broke down in tears as she spoke at a press conference with U.S. Senator Schumer, a Democrat for New York calling for tighter gun laws in an effort to stop mass shootings and gun violence

Emotion: Amy battled to control her emotions as she spoke about her desire to see gun laws changed

Gun control: Senator Chuck Schumer speaks at the press conference alongside his cousin comedian Amy Schumer

Cousins Amy and Chuck Schumer team up on gun control

The senator's legislation would create monetary rewards for states that submit all necessary records into the background check system and penalize states that do not.

He also will call on Congress to preserve mental health funding and substance abuse programs.

Schumer shed tears as she took to the podium to talk about the victims and address the horrific shooting which unfolded in a Louisiana theater last month.

'These shootings have got to stop,' she said. 'I don't know how else to say it.'

'I wanted to take this opportunity to say how I feel, she said. 'We're here today to say enough is enough to mass shootings in our schools, college campuses, our military bases end even in our movie theaters.

Schumer added: 'These are not extreme ideas. No one wants to live in a country where a felon, the mentally ill or other dangerous people can get their hands on a gun with such ease.'

Two young woman were senselessly shot dead in a Lafayette, Louisiana movie theater on July 23, as they watched the romantic comedy Trainwreck.

The victims were later named as Jillian Johnson, a 33-year-old who ran a gift shop with her husband, and Mayci Breaux, 21, a Louisiana State University student studying radiology.

Gunman John Russel Houser, 59, opened fire in the theater of more than 100 just 20 minutes into the 7pm screening, killing Johnson and Breaux.

His deadly rampage also left nine others injured before he turned the gun on himself and committed suicide when cornered by police.

The comedian and U.S. Senator press home their message about gun control and stand beside a sign saying 'Schumer & Schumer: Enough is Enough'

Gunman: John Russel Houser, 59, opened fire in the theater of more than 100 just 20 minutes into the 7pm screening, killing Johnson and Breaux

Theater attack: The city of Lafayette held a series of faith and community events around the slogan Lafayette Strong. Above, the Grand 16 Theatre on the day after the shooting

Victims: Shooter John Houser opened fire and killed Jillian Johnson, (right) 33, and Mayci Breaux, (left) 21, before police entered the theater and he turned the gun on himself

Lafayette shooting survivor talks about harrowing ordeal

Police are still investigating the circumstances and motive that led up to Houser's attack.

Lafayette police said Houser had been staying a local motel since the beginning of July.

They found wigs and other disguises in his motel room, and that his car - parked just outside the theater door - had a switched license tag on it, suggesting that he planned to flee the shooting and escape.

His medical history also revealed that he had a history of mental illness and had shown increasingly erratic behavior in the weeks and months before the attack.

Senator Schumer said the country cannot 'just sit back and allow mass shootings to become commonplace in the United States'.

'I have thought about these victims each day since the tragedy. When I heard about this news, I was completely devastated. I just wanted to go down to Louisiana. And then I was angry.

Amy Schumer

He said: 'How many breaking news flashes will it take for Congress to act? How many tears? How many lives lost?'

Amy Schumer added: 'Maybe the worst part about this is that there is a common sense way to stop mass shootings.There are many ways. For me the pain I share with so many other Americans on the issue of gun violence was made extremely personal to me on Thursday July 23.

'When John, I'm not even going to say his name,' she said close to tears, 'When he sat down for my movie Trainwreck at the Grand theater in Lafayette, Louisiana, two lives were tragically lost and others injured.

'I have thought about these victims each day since the tragedy. When I heard about this news, I was completely devastated. I just wanted to go down to Louisiana. And then I was angry.

Police radio: Officers respond to Lafayette theater shooting

'My heart goes out to Jillian and Mayci, to the survivors, to the families, and everyone who's tied to this tragic, senseless and horrifying actions of this man who should not have been able to put his hands on a gun in the first place.

Holding back tears she added: 'The thought of this community being turned upside down by this just sickens me...unless something is done soon dangerous people will continue to get their hands on guns.

Schumer then called for tougher background checks, with accurate information that 'protects us like a firewall.'

She also urged more to be done to stop those with mental illness, or a violent history from being able to buy guns. And said funding should be increased to help in the fight against mental illness.

'I was heartbroken when I heard about Columbine and Sandy Hook and Aurora and so many other names of places that are seared into our memories and I was heartbroken again when I heard about Lafayette. And I still am.'