Amy Schumer isn't standing idly by after a shooting at a movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana, during a screening of her movie Trainwreck on July 23. Two were killed, Mayci Breaux and Jillian Johnson, and nine others were injured.
The day after the shooting, Sarah Clements, the daughter of a Sandy Hook survivor, penned an open letter on Medium to Schumer, urging the comedian to take a stand and tackle gun violence.
In her letter, Clements asks Schumer to channel her power and personality to help change society for the better.
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. I admire your unapologetic, unwavering stature and your ability to laugh at yourself while actually pinning the joke on the audience to address often uncomfortable truths.
Her letter ends with a simple call to action.
Join your colleagues Sarah Silverman and Kristen Schaal. Join our movement. Write an op-ed. Support an organization. Demand change. Be a voice for our generation and for women -- two groups who make up most of the victims of the gun violence in our country.
As you said and as I’ve learned, what truly matters in life is how you decide to write your own story. And in doing so, don’t apologize to the frightened millions who resent that they never had it in them to do it. Instead, show them it can be done.
A week later, on Aug. 1, Schumer responded to Clements' letter on Twitter. "Don't worry," she writes. "I'm on it. You'll see." (She also corrects the spelling of one of the Lafayette victim's names, which has since been changed in the open letter on Medium.)
@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
And it looks like Schumer is keeping her word. She joined her cousin, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D.-NY), at a press conference on Monday in New York City to discuss a new plan to prevent mass shootings.
Clements and other fans are already eagerly waiting.
Wow. Thank you, @amyschumer. You're an incredible role model. Looking forward to seeing what you do. Ready to help! https://t.co/ASw6XJvBqc— Christine D (@cdickason11) August 1, 2015
.@amyschumer Thank you for having #gunsense & pledging to act. Mayci and Jillian lost their voices - we need to hear yours in their honor.— Sarah Clements (@sfclem) August 1, 2015
UPDATE, August 3, 2015, 4:08 p.m. EST: Writer Sarah Clements commented to Mashable about Amy Schumer's response, as well as Senator Schumer's push for stricter gun control laws, saying:
"I am grateful to Amy for reading my letter and for responding. And perhaps most importantly, I'm optimistic about what is to come from her to make our communities, our schools, our movie theaters safer. Amy could have tweeted, prayed and moved on, but what she did today demonstrates her commitment not just to the victims and their families, but to seeking a long term, sensible solution on gun violence.
I obviously support this background check expansion legislative plan, and am ready to rally behind this push now and in the future. This is a crucial moment because it proves that even people secondarily impacted by gun violence have a story, have a stake, and have a responsibility to honor those killed. I mentioned in my letter to her that this was an opportunity to show millions of Americans that they, too, can have a stake in this fight, and she is doing just that. Enough is enough."