It's the sitting for 3 1/2 years that likely led to the issue in the first place.
Likely it will happen again, too.
You'd be better off fixing the problem (notwithstanding the screwdriver handle idea).
Here's a scenario for you:
Your float needle sticks due to varnish buildup. Your bike runs more and more lean as the fuel level gets lower. You may well get to the place that due to being too lean, you get auto-ignition happening....the bike won't shutoff even with the kill switch pressed thru the bars.
Take the bowl off, remove the float/needle. Using a q-tip and a strip of wet-n-dry sandpaper (say 400 grit) wrapped over the q-tip, burnish the needle seat.
If your needle has any depression in the tip, replace it.
Verify your float level to spec.
Have a safe ride (minus the white-knuckle-WOT-when-U-least-expect-it part)!