Sound Arguments Part I

I've often heard the best way to test an argument is to take it to the extremes where the fundamental flaws reveal themselves more readily.  One of the major arguments against the exercise of second amendment rights on college campuses is the supposed danger of adding firearms to an environment where there is a greater incidence of drug and alcohol abuse.  This argument both ignores the reality that campus borders are horrendously porous, and accepts the premise that substance abuse is an unstoppable force that must affect everyone within university borders.  If this fear is enough justification to prevent the exercise of a constitutional right, why has such logic not been applied more broadly?

While undergraduates at many schools frequently complain about the lack of adequate parking, new evidence has led me to question whether students should even be allowed to own a car.  According to the CDC, automobiles are extremely dangerous with a mortality rate 63% greater than that of firearms among college age citizens, and 160% greater than that of firearms among the general population.  I'll admit, I alway though cars were a convenience for college students, but it appears my instincts were misguided.

Now that I consider the facts, I wonder why students and professors at our nations universities have failed to recognize this insurmountable risk, especially in an area where the average BAC apparently hovers around .39.  As alcohol-related legislation has been so blatantly ignored by university students nationwide, it is the duty of campus administrators to take action.  The solution is clear: in order to maintain the safety of our students, we must ban cars on all college campuses.

The benefits of a car free campus would be incredible.  Without cars to park, students would never need to worry about walking back from a distant lot in the middle of the night.  They would no longer need to be concerned about the prized possessions they left stowed in the trunk, and they would never again have to fight with an insurance agent because someone knocked off their mirror without leaving a note.

Now I know many of you -- high school seniors in particular -- may be skeptical, but when you put aside your personal biases it becomes clear that students just aren't responsible enough to drive safely.  If you still doubt such solid logic, then I invite you to spend a weekend touring some local schools.  You may never actually know anything about the students you see, but you will realize just how much comfortable you'd be if you know they had no way to access a vehicle after a long night out on the town.