Sharron is a Republican and a gun owner. And like the vast majority of the American people, including the vast majority of gun owners, she recognizes the importance of addressing the epidemic of gun violence in our country -- which we can do through advances in technology. In the greatest, most technologically advanced nation on Earth, we should be using all the tools we have to keep people safe. We make sure children can’t open a bottle of aspirin – why wouldn’t we make sure that they can’t pull a trigger on a gun?

That’s why today, I am proud to announce that the Department of Justice is releasing, for the first time, a detailed description of the minimum technical requirements that law enforcement agencies expect from smart gun technology. This will help make sure that any smart gun technology made available to law enforcement agencies is safe and reliable -- and it's a critical step toward jumpstarting the development of smart gun technology. A group of experts led by DOJ’s National Institute of Justice worked closely with law enforcement officers, firearms manufacturers, innovators, and other stakeholders across the country -- as well as other experts from the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense – to develop these specifications. They’re not mandating that anyone buy or make guns with advanced safety technology – but these specifications chart a path forward for making that an option in the marketplace.

As I’ve said before, we will never be able to stop every act of violence. But if we can take even one action, that saves even one life, we have an obligation to try. If we care about our kids and our country, we can find the courage to come together and take sensible actions to tackle our epidemic of gun violence. If we do, we’ll build a safer and stronger country that’s worthy of the memories of those we’ve lost and the lives we can still save.

I was proud to be the first President to host a Diwali celebration at the White House in 2009, and Michelle and I will never forget how the people of India welcomed us with open arms and hearts and danced with us in Mumbai on Diwali. This year, I was honored to kindle the first-ever diya in the Oval Office - a lamp that symbolizes how darkness will always be overcome by light. It is a tradition that I hope future Presidents will continue.

On behalf of the entire Obama family, I wish you and your loved ones peace and happiness on this Diwali.

That's why over the past eight years, my Administration has put in place rules that prevent excessive delays on the tarmac, permit ticket cancellations in more scenarios, require airlines to hold reservations or provide refunds within a 24-hour window, and provide better compensation to consumers who've been involuntarily bumped from oversold flights.

They're commonsense steps -- and today we're building on that progress with new actions to save you money, create more competition among airlines, and help you see (and get) exactly what you're paying for. These new steps include adding more protections for travelers with disabilities -- and requiring airlines to show you how often they lose luggage and how likely you are to reach your destinations on time.

All of this should help you make better decisions for yourselves and your families. Because for an industry that is so central to our lives, the principle should be simple: treat folks fairly, and give everybody the information they need to make smart decisions.

Every young person in America deserves the same opportunities I had: a world-class education, a pathway to apply for college or find a job, and a chance to lay a foundation for a career and a family.

But the fact is that in America, some groups have the odds stacked against them across multiple generations. And by so many measures, the group that is facing some of the most severe challenges in the 21st century are boys and young men of color.

That’s why we started My Brother’s Keeper: to bring together the private and public sector to ensure that all young people in America can reach their full potential.

In just two years, My Brother’s Keeper has come a long way. Nearly 250 communities across 50 states, 19 tribal nations, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have committed to supporting our kids from cradle to college to career. We’ve implemented new federal programs that are breaking down barriers to opportunity. And foundations and companies have made more than $1 billion in commitments to strengthen communities and transform lives.

I’ll be talking more about the progress that we’ve made with My Brother’s Keeper tonight in a conversation at North Carolina A&T State University. You can watch on ESPN's Facebook page at 10pm ET.

If Michelle and I had a son, we’d want him to have the same thing we want for our daughters – to grow up with a boundless sense of possibility. We’d want him to have respect for himself and for others, a commitment to hard work, and the opportunity to achieve his dreams. As Americans, that’s what we should all want for all children.

So as we kick off a new school year, I want to remind young people and families about FAFSA -- the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It used to be a complicated form. We've made it simple. It doesn't cost anything. It doesn't take a long time to fill out. Once you do, you put yourself in the running for all kinds of financial support for college -- scholarships, grants, loans, work-study jobs. I know what a difference it can make -- Michelle and I got through college with the support of loans and grants. Grants helped my mother raise two kids by herself while she got through school.

You can fill it out starting today, October 1. We're also allowing families to use a prior year's income, which means you don't have to wait until you file your taxes to fill out the form -- you can use information that's already available. Millions more students and families can use this easier FAFSA, making it more likely that you can get the financial aid you're eligible for.

The bottom line is, there's no excuse not to fill out your FAFSA as soon as possible. Think about it -- unless you fill it out, you won't know if you're eligible for free money for college. That's like leaving a wad of cash on the table. Who does that? So go to FAFSA.gov and get started -- it's a big step in the right direction.

Those are the words of a six-year-old boy -- a young child who has not learned to be cynical or suspicious or fearful of other people because of where they come from, how they look, or how they pray.

We should all be more like Alex. Imagine what the world would look like if we were. Imagine the suffering we could ease and the lives we could save.

Listen to Alex, read his letter, and I think you'll understand why I shared it with the world. wh.gov/refugees

More work remains to make sure we keep up with this progress in reducing inequality and growing wages for hardworking families. But today, it's worth taking stock of how far we've come together. This morning, I spoke with Jason Furman, who chairs my Council of Economic Advisers, to learn the latest on where our economy stands today.

A century after the creation of the National Park Service, they remain "America's best idea." That's why we've worked to protect more public lands and waters than any administration in history, and will continue to do what we can to protect our parks and our planet.

That's what Malia, Sasha, and all our kids deserve. So while no camera can truly capture the beauty of our national parks, I hope you'll take some time to go on this virtual reality tour. Or better yet, get outside and find your own favorite spot this weekend at FindYourPark.com. Park admission is free until Sunday, and I promise, it's worth it.

But this is a country that believes in second chances. So we've got to make sure that our criminal justice system works for everyone. We've got to make sure that it keeps our streets safe while also making sure that an entire class of people like Sherman isn't relegated to a life on the margins.

Last year, after he served more than 20 long years in prison, I commuted Sherman's sentence and those of many others who were serving unjust and outdated prison sentences.

And today, I'm commuting the sentences of an additional 214 men and women who are just as deserving of a second chance. Altogether, I've commuted more sentences than the past nine presidents combined, and I am not done yet.

These acts of clemency are important steps for families like Sherman's and steer our country in a better direction, but they alone won't fix our criminal justice system. We need Congress to pass meaningful federal sentencing reform that will allow us to more effectively use taxpayer dollars to protect the public.

I hope you'll take a minute to read and share Sherman's letter. The more we understand the human stories behind this problem, the sooner we can start making real changes that keep our streets safe, break the cycle of incarceration in this country, and save taxpayers like you money.

Drink plenty of water, and make sure those around you do, too. Look out for children or pets that might be stuck in a closed, parked vehicle. Hang out in an air-conditioned place, like your local shopping mall or a public library. Check on your friends and neighbors to make sure everybody’s handling the heat. And you can find a few more good tips at http://ready.gov/heat.

This summer, small acts of kindness like Carmine's can make a big difference. So stay cool, everybody -- and stay safe.

So together, we transformed our approach to food security and nutrition. We invested in agriculture and local economies, and launched a concerted effort to deliver new seeds, new techniques, and new technologies to farmers in rural areas around the globe. It worked. Last year alone, we reached over 9 million of them -- reducing hunger, boosting yields, and helping ensure 18 million more children get the nutrition they need.

And today, I signed the bipartisan Global Food Security Act to build on that progress and reaffirm our commitment to ending global hunger. It's something I'll talk about this afternoon at the Global Development Summit here in D.C. -- because no society can flourish while its citizens go hungry.

No one knows that better than people like Hapsatou Kah, a teacher and entrepreneur from Senegal who's fighting to end malnutrition in her community. Her story is just one of many that's a testament to what’s possible when we work together -- governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and civil society. It's through this cooperation that we've achieved incredible advances across the globe.

It took decades to get this far. And it will take years to reach our goals. But whenever the task seems too great, I'm reminded of the people like Hapsatou -- the odds they face and the promise they hold. They give me hope.

Watch Hapsatou's story, and then check out today's summit to see the progress we've made -- and the work we have left to do -- to advance security, prosperity, and dignity around the globe: www.whitehouse.gov/globaldevelopment

We discussed ways that all sides of our communities -- activists, police, local officials -- can work together to make sure that we can both protect the peace and our first amendment rights at protests. We talked about how we can effectively police neighborhoods ravaged by violence, improve law enforcement hiring practices, and make sure we’re not asking our police to do too much. And we talked about how, when tragedies do occur, we can act in a way that honors all members of our communities.

I’ll admit, it was a candid discussion -- challenging at times. But it couldn’t have been more important. Tomorrow, I’ll continue the discussion with a town hall here in Washington -- and I hope you tune in at 8pm ET on the ABC News Facebook page.

But here’s the thing -- you don’t need television cameras or a room at the White House to hold this kind of discussion. All of us have the power to make change in our own communities. So I want to ask you -- no matter who you are or where you live -- to do whatever you can to foster these conversations and find solutions for your community.

That’s the path out of moments like these. Not to withdraw, or shout each other down, but to reach out to each other -- even if it’s difficult -- and find some common ground. I know it’s possible -- I saw it happen this afternoon.

That’s why on Wednesday, I'll host a conversation at the White House to discuss how we can move forward together. We’ll hear from individuals from around the country -- civil rights activists, law enforcement, academics, mayors, and more -- about ways we can both keep people safe and ensure justice for all Americans. Because progress is possible. That’s what we’ve seen through my Administration’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing -- and so we’ll share solutions from communities that have already found ways to build trust and reduce disparities.

Going forward, I want to hear ideas from even more Americans about how we can address these challenges together as one nation. That means you. Whether you're a police officer working to keep our communities safe, an activist marching and organizing, or anyone else, you can share your story and ideas here: go.wh.gov/VDPvKz. I hope you do -- because that’s one way we can find common purpose and together, we can build a better America.

But regardless of the outcome of such investigations, what's clear is that these fatal shootings are not isolated incidents. They are symptomatic of the broader challenges within our criminal justice system, the racial disparities that appear across the system year after year, and the resulting lack of trust that exists between law enforcement and too many of the communities they serve.

To admit we've got a serious problem in no way contradicts our respect and appreciation for the vast majority of police officers who put their lives on the line to protect us every single day. It is to say that, as a nation, we can and must do better to institute the best practices that reduce the appearance or reality of racial bias in law enforcement.

That's why, two years ago, I set up a Task Force on 21st Century Policing that convened police officers, community leaders, and activists. Together, they came up with detailed recommendations on how to improve community policing. So even as officials continue to look into this week's tragic shootings, we also need communities to address the underlying fissures that lead to these incidents, and to implement those ideas that can make a difference. That's how we'll keep our communities safe. And that's how we can start restoring confidence that all people in this great nation are equal before the law.

In the meantime, all Americans should recognize the anger, frustration, and grief that so many Americans are feeling -- feelings that are being expressed in peaceful protests and vigils. Michelle and I share those feelings. Rather than fall into a predictable pattern of division and political posturing, let's reflect on what we can do better. Let's come together as a nation, and keep faith with one another, in order to ensure a future where all of our children know that their lives matter.

Elie was not just the world's most prominent Holocaust survivor, he was a living memorial. After we walked together among the barbed wire and guard towers of Buchenwald where he was held as a teenager and where his father perished, Elie spoke words I’ve never forgotten – “Memory has become a sacred duty of all people of goodwill.” Upholding that sacred duty was the purpose of Elie's life. Along with his beloved wife Marion and the foundation that bears his name, he raised his voice, not just against anti-Semitism, but against hatred, bigotry and intolerance in all its forms. He implored each of us, as nations and as human beings, to do the same, to see ourselves in each other and to make real that pledge of “never again.”

At the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum that he helped create, you can see his words —“for the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” But Elie did more than just bear witness, he acted. As a writer, a speaker, an activist, and a thinker, he was one of those people who changed the world more as a citizen of the world than those who hold office or traditional positions of power. His life, and the power of his example, urges us to be better. In the face of evil, we must summon our capacity for good. In the face of hate, we must love. In the face of cruelty, we must live with empathy and compassion. We must never be bystanders to injustice or indifferent to suffering. Just imagine the peace and justice that would be possible in our world if we all lived a little more like Elie Wiesel.

At the end of our visit to Buchenwald, Elie said that after all that he and the other survivors had endured, “we had the right to give up on humanity.” But he said, “we rejected that possibility…we said, no, we must continue believing in a future.” Tonight, we give thanks that Elie never gave up on humanity and on the progress that is possible when we treat one another with dignity and respect. Our thoughts are with Marion, their son Shlomo Elisha, his stepdaughter Jennifer and his grandchildren whom we thank for sharing Elie with the world. May God bless the memory of Elie Wiesel, and may his soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life.

Pat learned early on that everyone should be treated the same. When she would play basketball against her older brothers in the family barn, they didn’t treat her any differently and certainly didn’t go easy on her. Later, her Hall of Fame career would tell the story of the historic progress toward equality in American athletics that she helped advance. Pat started playing college hoops before Title IX and started coaching before the NCAA recognized women’s basketball as a sport. When she took the helm at Tennessee as a 22-year-old, she had to wash her players’ uniforms; by the time Pat stepped down as the Lady Vols’ head coach, her teams wore eight championship rings and had cut down nets in sold-out stadiums.

Pat was a patriot who earned Olympic medals for America as a player and a coach, and I was honored to award her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was a proud Tennessean who, when she went into labor while on a recruiting visit, demanded the pilot return to Knoxville so her son could be born in her home state. And she was an inspiring fighter. Even after Alzheimer’s started to soften her memory, and she began a public and brave fight against that terrible disease, Pat had the grace and perspective to remind us that “God doesn’t take things away to be cruel… He takes things away to lighten us. He takes things away so we can fly.”

Michelle and I send our condolences to Pat Summitt’s family – which includes her former players and fans on Rocky Top and across America.