R015-9900

10 				A RESOLUTION CONCERNING 

20  			   DISCOURAGEMENT OF DRUNK-DRIVING



30   WHEREAS:	The freedom of whether or not to drink is a privilege of citizenship.  However, 

40 		this privilege is withheld from Americans until they are deemed mature enough 

50 		to responsibly exercise it; and,



60   WHEREAS:	Thousands of citizens are killed each year by drunken, if not responsible, 

70 		American motorists; and,



80   WHEREAS:	This neglect of personal responsibility is an outrageous abuse of purported

90 		freedom; and,



100  WHEREAS:	People who value convenience in exercising their freedom, over risk to the life

110 		of others, are in no way worthy of the privileges granted by the responsibility 

120 		they so carelessly abuse; and,



130  WHEREAS:	Despite current penalties stemming from conviction, the recorded frequency of 

140 		drunk-driving is still shamefully high; and,



150  WHEREAS:	Since Americans seem to be deterred by neither appeal to the safety of their

160 		countrymen, nor by the threat of modest punishment, extreme measures must be 

170 		taken so that the drinking-public will no longer be willing to risk the legal 

180 		consequences of driving while intoxicated.



190  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:	That the Maryland Student Legislature urges the 

200 		Congress of the United States to pass legislation which would make the 

210 		mandatory sentence for a first-time drunk-driving offense life-imprisonment.



220  MANDATES:	Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert

230 		House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt

240 		Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott

250 		Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle





Sponsor:

Michael Schoen

University of Maryland at College Park

7201 Princeton Ave. #11

College Park, MD 20740

(301) 779-5425

mschoen@wam.umd.edu