Obama vows gun reform vote

What I’ve said tonight matters little if we don’t come together to protect our most precious resource – our children.

It has been two months since Newtown. I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time is different.

Overwhelming majorities of Americans – Americans who believe in the 2nd Amendment – have come together around common sense reform – like background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun.

Senators of both parties are working together on tough new laws to prevent anyone from buying guns for resale to criminals.

Police chiefs are asking our help to get weapons of war and massive ammunition magazines off our streets, because they are tired of being outgunned.

Each of these proposals deserves a vote in Congress.

Tonight, we stand united in saluting the troops and civilians who sacrifice every day to protect us.

Because of them, we can say with confidence that America will complete its mission in Afghanistan, and achieve our objective of defeating the core of al Qaeda.

Already, we have brought home 33,000 of our brave servicemen and women.

This spring, our forces will move into a support role, while Afghan security forces take the lead.

Tonight, I can announce that over the next year, another 34,000 American troops will come home from Afghanistan.

This draw down will continue. And by the end of next year, our war in Afghanistan will be over.

Our economy is stronger when we harness the talents and ingenuity of striving, hopeful immigrants.

And right now, leaders from the business, labour, law enforcement, and faith communities all agree that the time has come to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

But for the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change.

Yes, it’s true that no single event makes a trend.

But the fact is, the 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15.

Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods – all are now more frequent and intense.

We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy, and the most severe drought in decades, and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence.

Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgement of science – and act before it’s too late.

Now is our best chance for bipartisan, comprehensive tax reform that encourages job creation and helps bring down the deficit.

The American people deserve a tax code that helps small businesses spend less time filling out complicated forms, and more time expanding and hiring; a tax code that ensures billionaires with high-powered accountants can’t pay a lower rate than their hard-working secretaries; a tax code that lowers incentives to move jobs overseas, and lowers tax rates for businesses and manufacturers that create jobs right here in America.

That’s what tax reform can deliver.