Obama reveals raw emotion in plea on new gun laws Barack Obama: Scolding Congress. Frustrated by deep political resistance to new gun laws, President Barack Obama tried to regain momentum in his drive to pass legislation next month with an impassioned plea to remember the horror of the school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, in December. Standing in front of mothers of gun victims invited to the White House, Mr Obama on Thursday scolded legislators for not embracing the most sweeping of his ideas and objected to the notion that the country has moved on three months after 20 children and six adults were shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School. "Less than 100 days ago that happened, and the entire country was shocked and the entire country pledged we would do something about it and this time would be different," Mr Obama said, his voice rising with indignation. Shame on us if we've forgotten. I haven't forgotten those kids. Mr Obama's appearance in the East Room was unusual. Rather than read from teleprompters, he seemed to speak extemporaneously much of the time and expressed irritation in a way that the generally reserved President does not often do. The President's remarks came as his proposal to reinstate an assault weapon ban has faltered in the Senate and another proposal to expand criminal background checks appears in trouble as well. Another measure to increase penalties on so-called straw purchasers has more support. The Senate is preparing to begin a floor debate on gun laws when senators return on the week of April 8.