AdvertisementObama Uses And Loses Political Capital On Gun ControlApril 17, 2013Frank JamesfacebookEmailMark Barden, the father of a young Newtown, Conn., shooting victim, speaks at a White House news conference on Wednesday, with President Obama and former Rep. Gabby Giffords. Obama denounced the Senate's defeat of a measure to expand background checks for gun buyers. "This was a pretty shameful day in Washington," he said. (AP)