Video: Barack Obama on gun control: 'Shame on us if we've forgotten' 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 that this time would be different," he said, "Shame on us if we've forgotten. I haven't forgotten those kids. Shame on us if we've forgotten. Mr Obama spoke as it appeared that efforts to force tighter gun laws through Congress, including universal background checks for new gun purchases, were running out of steam in the face of political self-interest and lobbying by the powerful National Rifle Association. An assault weapons has already been dropped from a Senate gun bill which will be voted on in the coming weeks, with support for limiting high-capacity magazine and universal background checks also looking shaky as Democrat Senators from Republican-leaning, pro-gun states fear for their re-election. "We have a politically savvy and a loyal voting bloc and the politicians know that," said Andrew Arulanandam, an NRA Spokesman, hinting at the apparent stranglehold the organisation has on US politicians. Ninety per cent of Americans - 90 percent - support background checks that will keep criminals and people who have been found to be a danger to themselves or others from buying a gun. More than 80 percent of Republicans agree. More than 80 percent of gun owners agree," Mr Obama added, highlight the gap between the Congress and public. Mr Obama urged his party to be courageous and the public to put seek out their elected politicians and demand to know why they were not supporting tougher laws. If they're not part of that 90 percent who agree that we should make it harder for a criminal or somebody with a severe mental illness to buy a gun, then you should ask them, why not? Why are you part of the 10 percent?" he said. Tears aren't enough. Expressions of sympathy aren't enough. Speeches aren't enough. We've cried enough. We've known enough heartbreak. What we're proposing is not radical, it's not taking away anybody's gun rights. It's something that if we are serious, we will do. Video source: APTN