Here’s one suggestion for all of the presidential candidates out on the trail this month… don’t get involved with any questions regarding all the unrest at the nation’s colleges. The campuses are just festering holes of distraction overrun by Social Justice Warriors who are essentially going to be a lost cause until they get out of there into the real world and receive a stiff dose of reality. And whenever the candidates try to address some of the concerns being raised there will always be somebody ready to smack them down, no matter how reasonable or well intentioned the response may have been.

A prime example of this phenomenon was on display when Ohio Governor John Kasich gave a speech in Watertown, New York and took questions in a town hall format. A young woman who is a freshman attending a college near there asked Kasich what he would do, “to help me feel safer and more secure regarding sexual violence, harassment, and rape?”

Now, in any normal version of the universe, that should be a completely reasonable question for a young co-ed to ask. Going out into the world with a bunch of strangers can be scary and there are incidents of violence no matter where you go. (The entire “campus rape culture” myth is overblown, but any young person should be rightly concerned for their own safety and remain aware of possible threats.) Unfortunately for Kasich, we don’t live in that reasonable world and he was silly enough to try to answer her. He starts off well enough, telling her she should make sure that, if she’s attacked, that she can go somewhere to safely and confidentially report the crime and have access to a rape test kit. (That’s actually handled by a medical professional, but still… good advice. Make sure they have them on hand.)

But things took a turn when Kasich went further and tried to administer some common sense. (ABC News)

The student, who said she studied at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, replied, “It’s sad, but it’s something that I have to worry about.”

“Well, I would give you — I’d also give you one bit of advice,” Kasich replied. “Don’t go to parties where there’s a lot of alcohol.”

The audience applauded.

If you live somewhere in the vicinity of the real world, that’s an incomplete answer, but it’s at least the starting point for some good advice. However the Democrats were having none of it.

Democrats pounced on Kasich’s response. “Republican presidential candidates like John Kasich and Donald Trump are insulting women everyday [sic.] on the campaign trail by blaming victims of sexual and domestic violence,” a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, Christina Freundlich, said in a statement.

This kind of stupidity is enough to have me spitting nails and it’s out there infesting the media on a daily basis. Obviously Kasich isn’t “blaming” anyone for anything. He’s simply pointing out some common sense which sadly isn’t all that common anymore. But as I said, it’s also incomplete. Allow me to fill in the blanks.

First of all, this young woman’s age is not stated, but if she’s a college freshman there’s a good chance she’s 18 or 19. The drinking age in New York is 21. (And pretty much everywhere else in the country as I recall.) So for starters, tip number one is… don’t break the law. And if you do, be prepared to face the consequences if the cops raid your party.

Next, be aware that if there are any actual potential rapists attending the party, yes… alcohol may potentially fuel them to act out on their impulses. If you’re going to go drinking while underage at such a party, go with friends, preferably including some larger male friends who you trust and have a plan to stick together and keep an eye on each other.

Third, do your best to be able to protect yourself if things go south. If you are of legal age and do all the required paperwork, get a gun and put in the time to be both safe and proficient with it under any circumstances. (Though since this girl is in New York the odds of getting a pistol and a permit to carry are nearly nil. In other states her chances would be better.) Failing that, carry some mace or a stun gun. Take a self defense class. Work out at the gym. Be ready to fight if you have to.

Fourth, if you are attacked and (hopefully) survive an actual rape or other sexual assault situation, talk immediately to the police as soon as your urgent medical needs are attended to. Insist on a private situation to make your report and even a female officer if that helps you deal with the trauma from such a horrible event. Just make sure you get the cops involved immediately. If you go to some kangaroo court comprised of university faculty or the student government I will not blame you for your rape, but I will blame you for the next girl who gets raped because you didn’t help the cops stop the monster and put him in jail.

And finally, if you get tipsy and decide to go home with some drunk guy and have sex, don’t wake up feeling regret and call the cops and say you were raped. You were both drunk and stupid and made bad choices. See tip number one above. (This doesn’t apply if you were blacked out on your feet or unconscious. Sexually assaulting the incapacitated is still sexual assault.) But while we’re on the subject… don’t get black out drunk around a bunch of strangers! That’s not “blaming” you or excusing an attacker, but you are severely compromising your ability to defend yourself in a potentially dangerous situation. Keep your wits about you and be aware of your surroundings. It’s a dangerous world and law enforcement can’t be everywhere. Your parents should have taught you all of this, but in case they didn’t I’m here to help.

If Kasich had launched into that diatribe he might have actually helped some people. Of course, he’d also be under attack from the SJW far more than he already is. (As I’m sure I will be now. So be it.)