Comedian Amy Schumer joins cousin, Sen. Charles Schumer, to call for gun control reform

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Actress and comedian Amy Schumer joined her cousin, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, Monday as the two called for tighter gun control laws and a stronger background check system.

The Schumers teamed up in the wake of last month's mass shooting inside a Louisiana movie theater showing Amy Schumer's new movie "Trainwreck." Two young women were killed and nine other people were injured.

"I'm not sure why this man chose my movie to end these two beautiful lives and injure nine others, but it was very personal for me," the actress said.

The comedian was emotional as she explained she is channeling her anger over the shooting into helping her cousin push for new legislation that would make it harder for violent criminals and the mentally ill to obtain guns.

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

The bill would reward states that submit all necessary records into a background check system and penalize states that do not. Sen. Schumer is also calling on Congress to preserve mental health funding and substance abuse programs.

"We're here to say enough is enough," Sen. Schumer said. "How many breaking news flashes will it take for Congress to act? How many tears? How many lives lost?"

Sen. Schumer has pushed for tighter gun laws for decades, authoring the 1993 Brady Bill and working to pass the a criminal background check improvement act. While this was the first time Amy Schumer has spoken publicly about the issue of gun violence, she said it will not be her last.

"Unless something is done and done soon, dangerous people will continue to get their hands on guns," she said. "We know what can happen when they do."