On Tuesday, the “Big Three” (ABC, CBS, and NBC) network morning shows all went to bat for comedian Amy Schumer and helped promote her call for greater gun control in the wake of a shooting at a Louisiana movie theater during a showing of her movie Trainwreck.
Today co-host Savannah Guthrie praised Schumer’s “emotional plea in the wake of that deadly theater shooting in Louisiana...This is a very public call for tighter gun control laws.”
In a full report, NBC reporter Kate Snow touted how following the movie theater shooting Schumer was “taking action” where she “joined her cousin, high-ranking New York Senator Chuck Schumer in calling for measures to force states to turn over the right records so better background checks could be done on gun buyers.”
The NBC reporter then played several clips of the comedian getting “choked up” talking about the shooting before she promoted how a relative of a Sandy Hook survivor called Schumer “‘this generation's epitome of what it means to be a strong, powerful, self-aware champion' ending by saying ‘we need your help.’”
Snow continued to cheer on Schumer’s gun control efforts as she noted “ It's not the first time Schumer has taken on the gun issue. Months before the theater shooting, her Comedy Central show featured a fake commercial contrasting the struggle to get birth control pills with easy access to guns.”
On CBS This Morning, co-host Gayle King gushed over Schumer for “leading a new charge for stricter gun control.” The CBS host then turned to reporter Jim Axelrod who eagerly hyped Schumer’s appearance with her cousin, New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who is "asking for more intensive background checks and increased government funding for mental health care.”
Axelrod then played several clips of Schumer’s “impassioned plea” for more gun control which include closing several gun “loopholes” but ultimately lamented that a GOP-led Congress won’t pass such legislation:
Now the chances of a gun control vote in the GOP-led Congress are unlikely. Remember two plus years ago in the aftermath of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, the Democratic-led Senate couldn't get the 60 votes necessary to advance background checks legislation. We did reach out to the NRA for a comment this morning but have not heard back.
ABC’s Good Morning America struck a similar chord during its promotion of Schumer’s gun control activism with co-host Amy Robach describing how the comedian got Schumer “serious about gun control.”
Reporter Cecilia Vega continued to give Schumer’s activism a platform and played up how “[t]he daughter of a Sandy Hook survivor wrote a letter urging Amy Schumer to speak out on gun violence in America and that is exactly what she did.”
After she played several clips from Schumer’s latest movie, Vega stressed how “this morning, Amy Schumer isn't laughing. She's speaking out for the first time since last month's deadly shooting at that movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana. Making an emotional plea.”
The ABC reporter went on to play several clips of Schumer calling for new gun laws which gave Vega used an opportunity to inform her audience that she will continue to push for greater gun control legislation:
An actress known for her fearless comedy. Not backing down from this fight either. She sure isn't. The one thing Schumer did not say, the shooter's name and while she says these may be her first public comments on gun violence, Schumer promises they will not be her last.
See relevant transcripts below.
CBS This Morning
August 4, 2015
GAYLE KING: This morning, an unlikely duo is leading a new charge for stricter gun control. Comedian Amy Schumer made her first public remarks on Monday about July's deadly Louisiana theater shooting. Now, it happened during a screening of her movie "Trainwreck." She stood alongside her second cousin; that would be New York Senator Chuck Schumer. Jim Axelrod joins us to tell us about the three point plan to curb gun violence. Jim, good morning.
JIM AXELROD: Good morning. The comedienne and the politician, bound by family ties, are asking for more intensive background checks and increased government funding for mental health care.
JON STEWART: That must have rocked you to your core.
AMY SCHUMER: Man! What a bummer. I was, like, legit heart broken.
AXELROD: Amy Schumer appeared as a guest of Jon Stewart on Monday night on "The Daily Show."
SCHUMER: The second this happened, you want to act, I wanted to go down and there and just do whatever I could and so yeah this has been in the works.
AXELROD: Earlier on Monday, the comedienne stood alongside senior New York Senator Chuck Schumer, her cousin, and made an impassioned plea.
SCHUMER: These shootings have got to stop. I don't know how else to say it.
AXELROD: Using a handgun he purchased legally, John Houser shot 11 people inside a theater last month, killing 2 women, Mayci Breaux and Jillian Johnson during a showing of Schumer's movie "Trainwreck."
SCHUMER: When I heard about this news, I was completely devastated. 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.
AXELROD: Authorities said Houser had a history of mental illness.
CHUCK SCHUMER: There is a right to bear arms. I agree with that.
AXELROD: The Democratic senator said the current background check system is filled with fatal loopholes.
CHUCK SCHUMER: We all know that if the laws were tight, the shooter in Charleston would not have passed a background check. The shooter in Lafayette would have been declared mentally unfit.
AXELROD: A provision in federal law allows a gun buy to happen if a background check is not completed within three days. The FBI said that breakdown allowed Dylann Roof to purchase a firearm in the South Carolina church shooting in June.
AMY SCHUMER: The critics scoff and say “well, there is no way to stop crazy people from doing crazy things” but they are wrong! There is a way to stop them.
AXELROD: Now the chances of a gun control vote in the GOP-led Congress are unlikely. Remember two plus years ago in the aftermath of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, the Democratic-led Senate couldn't get the 60 votes necessary to advance background checks legislation. We did reach out to the NRA for a comment this morning but have not heard back. Gayle?
KING: Alright, Amy Schumer and Chuck Schumer together. I think many did not know they were related until today.
AXELROD: They do now.
KING: Working on an important cause. Thank you Jim.
--
ABC’s Good Morning America
August 4, 2015
AMY ROBACH: And now to comedian Amy Schumer getting serious about gun control. Speaking out after last month's deadly movie theater shooting. The killer picking her new movie "Trainwreck" for his rampage. And now she’s joining forces with her cousin New York Senator Chuck Schumer to fight for tougher laws. ABC’s Cecilia Vega is here with that story. Good morning Cecilia.
CECILIA VEGA: Hi Amy, good morning to you. Actress, comedian, now activist. The daughter of a Sandy Hook survivor wrote a letter urging Amy Schumer to speak out on gun violence in America and that is exactly what she did.
AMY SCHUMER as AMY TOWNSEND: I'm just a modern chick who does what she wants.
BILL HADER as AARON CONNERS: I think we really like each other and should start dating.
SCHUMER: No.
HADER: Yes.
SCHUMER: No.
HADER: Yes.
VEGA: We know her as Hollywood's leading funny woman.
HADER: Do you follow sports?
SCHUMER: Sports. I love them.
HADER: Who is your favorite team?
SCHUMER: The Orlando blooms.
VEGA: But this morning, Amy Schumer isn't laughing. She's speaking out for the first time since last month's deadly shooting at that movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana. Making an emotional plea.
SCHUMER: I wanted to just go down to Louisiana and then I was angry. My heart goes out to Jillian and Mayci, to the survivors, to the families and everyone who was tied to this tragic, and senseless horrifying actions of this man who shouldn't have been able to put his hands on a gun in the first place.
VEGA: The star joining forces with her cousin New York Senator Chuck Schumer calling for new gun control legislation with stricter background checks.
CHUCK SCHUMER: I have a lot of press conferences but I almost never get this many people so I want to thank my cousin for that.
AMY SCHUMER: I am expecting a backlash and I’ll handle it the way I've handled it the last ten years. I've had death threats and a lot of hate directed toward me, but I'm someone who -- I want to be proud of the way I'm living and what I stand for.
VEGA: The shooting that killed two and injured nine was personal for the actress. Theatergoers were watching her movie "Trainwreck" when the gunfire broke out.
SCHUMER: I thought about these victims each day since the tragedy.
VEGA: An actress known for her fearless comedy. Not backing down from this fight either. She sure isn't. The one thing Schumer did not say, the shooter's name and while she says these may be her first public comments on gun violence, Schumer promises they will not be her last. Amy?
ROBACH: All right, Cecilia, thanks so much.
--
NBC’s Today
August 4, 201
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: But we’re going to begin this half hour with Amy Schumer's emotional plea in the wake of that deadly theater shooting in Louisiana. It happened at a showing of her movie "Trainwreck." This is a very public call for tighter gun control laws. And she joined her cousin Senator Chuck Schumer. NBC National Correspondent Kate Snow is here with more. Kate good morning to you.
KATE SNOW: Good morning guys. So the night that a gunman with a history of mental issues opened fire in that Lafayette theater, the 34-year old comedian tweeted that her heart was broken. Now, she’s taking action. As you say, she’s joining her cousin, New York State Senator Chuck Schumer calling for new measures to prevent those with mental problems from getting access to guns.
AMY SCHUMER: I was, like, legit heartbroken just to get that news.
SNOW: Amy Schumer discussing her agony and new activism with Jon Stewart.
SCHUMER: You want to act. I wanted to go down there and just do whatever I could. So, yeah, this has been in the works.
SNOW: The comedian’s interview coming just hours after she joined her cousin, high-ranking New York Senator Chuck Schumer in calling for measures to force states to turn over the right records so better background checks could be done on gun buyers. Schumer choked up talking about the two women who were shot dead while watching “Trainwreck” two weeks ago.
SCHUMER: 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. Unless something is done and done soon dangerous people will continue to get their hands on guns. We know what can happen when they do.
SNOW: After the shooting in Lafayette, the daughter of a teacher who survived the Sandy Hook massacre wrote an open online letter to Schumer urging her to take up the cause. Sarah Clemons called Schumer “this generation's epitome of what it means to be a strong, powerful, self-aware champion,” ending by saying “we need your help.” Over the weekend Schumer responded, tweeting “don't worry. I'm on it. You'll see.” It's not the first time Schumer has taken on the gun issue. Months before the theater shooting, her Comedy Central show featured a fake commercial contrasting the struggle to get birth control pills with easy access to guns.
SCHUMER: No refills? I have to go through this again next month?
UNKNOWN MAN: Yep, see you then.
UNKNOWN KID: Can I have a gun?
MAN: Yep.
SNOW: Her voice on the issue now turning from parody to pledge.
SCHUMER: These are my first public comments on the issue of gun violence but I can promise you these will not be my last.
SNOW: Amy Schumer says she expects a backlash from gun owners. An NRA spokesperson says while they haven't seen the legislation specifically that Senator Schumer is proposing, it sounds to them very much like existing law that the NRA supported adding “we all agree that people who are adjudicated mentally ill shouldn't have firearms. But she’s really wading into a controversial issue, obviously.
