Should Prostitution be decriminalized?

[chickapin parterre]

Already legal in Nevada, with restrictions. And the law addresses -_criminalizes - pandering https://statelaws.findlaw.com/nevada-law/nevada-prostitution-and-solicitation-laws.html

that is correct....and I feel sorry for the women held hostage in those nevada houses ...travel along hwy 95 and you can see the ill fitted buildings....in the middle of nowhere........trapped..... women enter prostitution at the end of a long road of sexual abuse that created their lack of inhibition when they were young....prostitution is not a choice, but an end.

 

[ponyboy]

It isn't a victimless crime, as we've been discussing.

It is unless there is other criminal conduct.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm genuinely curious. Why would more people be hurt?...

I don't think I can get into it without going against board rules.

Anyway, maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Hikergirl]

It isn't always a victimless crime.
For those instances, legalization is a positive thing.
Laws can be made so that forced prostitution is still illegal even when victimless prostitution is decriminalzed.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Prostitution is illegal and people are forced into it now.
Legalizing it isn't going to change that so no reason to use that as an argument against doing it.

Why wouldn't legalizing it change it, though?

 

[Hikergirl]

Why wouldn't legalizing it change it, though?

I would say because there is money to be made, it would just be a black market.
There are plenty of things that are legal that people find a way around those laws to do illegal things.

 

[ronandannette]

I would say because there is money to be made, it would just be a black market.
There are plenty of things that are legal that people find a way around those laws to do illegal things.

Not sure if it's a direct comparison, but legalizing marijuana and highly-regulating (and taxing) legal sales doesn't seem to have curtailed the illegal drug trade - much of which is controlled by organized crime. They certainly didn't all just pack up and go home when the legal pot-shops opened.

It's apparently a matter of marketing. Legalize marijuana sales are all done through government-licensed shops. The government controls the product and the prices are set. The street-dealers simply offer better stuff and under-cut the prices. The regular pot smokers I know didn't find the lofty ideal of going legit to be worth the extra money; they both still buy from "their guys".

 

[fly girl]

Places like the Bunny Ranch in Nevada I really have no problem with. As long as the women are taken care of and have made the decision to be there on their own volition, no problem.

Consenting adults I have no issue with. But how do we know what is and isn't consenting?

My issue lies with the women (and men) in the majority of prostitution -- this isn't the profession they chose, it was one they got into blindly and/or forcefully. And I particularly worry about sex trafficking and its potential increase if it is legalized.

It is a tricky one. I just worry about the victims . . . they got dealt an incredibly ****ty hand and can't find a way out. I don't see how legalizing it will make it any better for them.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Not sure if it's a direct comparison, but legalizing marijuana and highly-regulating (and taxing) legal sales doesn't seem to have curtailed the illegal drug trade - much of which is controlled by organized crime. They certainly didn't all just pack up and go home when the legal pot-shops opened.

The regular pot smokers I know didn't find the lofty ideal of going legit to be worth the extra money; they both still buy from "their guys".

24 hours ago the California Border patrol had a press release about the massive rail tunnel into san Diego,,,,24 hours later David Muir gave it a few seconds while the yuma station gave it a good 2 mintues, full of photos and maps....wealthy drug cartel has been busy. And my son on a phone call told me that he no longer goes to store fronts...he has his own guy. so control and regulation and taxing is still underground.

 

[mousefan73]

In Germany Prostitution is legal in very controlled ways and we have such a "house" in our city. I was in a unique situation where I gave one of their new employees a ride to this establishment. It was a train commute situation where I gave this poor woman traveling all the way from Switzerland a ride to my city as we met on the train and her ride ( pimp) did not show up. It wasnt until we already chatted and I offered help and saw the address when I realize where she was heading...

I will never forget when we pulled up, all the other ladies looked out and gave her this evil eye... judging this new comer... She said in the car, basically "oh god".. I felt bad as she was walking into a catty place. We did not talk about her job while driving from the station to our tow. We were talking more about how she ended up coming up to Africa to Europe and how she met the owner online and this was basically one of the few job opportunities she had...

What bothers me is that it's legal so we have the impression that these women are empowered to make their choice on how they make a living.. I didn't get the impression she was 1000% excited that this was a great job opportunitiy. Being forced into a profession becomes other options are limited is not freedom. Even though legal, women are still explotiated.. Making it legal or illegal IMO doesnt save the women from explotiation. Just might make it a bit safer, less underground.

ps.. OT, I wish government would focus on online porn more.. the fact my kids can googel and get and view free porn online from any device disgusts me. those 18 and older popups to click are a joke. My idea would be to require a CC registration.. not necessary a charge. but way to track and guarentee no child can easily get online to view. That might open a can or worms, ( tracking ) but hey a small price to pay if you need to watch porn.

 

[tzolkin]

Not sure if it's a direct comparison, but legalizing marijuana and highly-regulating (and taxing) legal sales doesn't seem to have curtailed the illegal drug trade - much of which is controlled by organized crime. They certainly didn't all just pack up and go home when the legal pot-shops opened.

This is what I think many people miss in discussions on this topic. Legalizing is not going to magically give every prostitute a safe brothel to work at where they are receiving medical care and fair wages. The same girls (and boys)-- especially the addicts, runaways, and homeless-- will still be meeting strangers on the street, putting themselves in dangerous and abusive situations, being manipulated and held captive, etc. The only difference is that it will be "legal" so the johns and pimps will not have the fear of possible arrest holding them back.

 

[Nick6300]

My friends in the Netherlands claim that their legalized prostitution really cuts down on all criminal activities associated such as rape, assault, trafficking. Makes sense to me. In terms of bettering the economy, I'm not sure how easy it would be for governments to collect taxes when it's a cash business tough. At least directly. Indirectly, there might be cost savings in having less focus on policing the related issues.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

This is what I think many people miss in discussions on this topic. Legalizing is not going to magically give every prostitute a safe brothel to work at where they are receiving medical care and fair wages. The same girls (and boys)-- especially the addicts, runaways, and homeless-- will still be meeting strangers on the street, putting themselves in dangerous and abusive situations, being manipulated and held captive, etc. The only difference is that it will be "legal" so the johns and pimps will not have the fear of possible arrest holding them back.

I'm confused though has there been a person who said we should make it all fine and dandy and every situation is legal?

I think the vast majority would be saying that the john and the pimps would still have the fear of possible arrest, the same as it is now, if it was forced and not fully under the person's free will. The issue really becomes the complicated mess that is trying to see who is actually doing it under their free will with the full understanding and who isn't.

I think that is what many people also miss in discussions on these topics. I don't know that people are calling for a free for all with getting money in exchange for sexual acts suddenly becomes the wild wild west where any and all are totally legal with no controls placed, no exceptions, it's all good to go.

Practically, at this point, I'm not sure it would work out here for a myriad of reasons so I'm not advocating for it.

 

[Searc]

My friends in the Netherlands claim that their legalized prostitution really cuts down on all criminal activities associated such as rape, assault, trafficking. Makes sense to me. In terms of bettering the economy, I'm not sure how easy it would be for governments to collect taxes when it's a cash business tough. At least directly. Indirectly, there might be cost savings in having less focus on policing the related issues.

You make a good point. I would assume all of the transactions are in cash, so under the table. How do you force people to track that and pay taxes on it? John's aren't going to use a method of payment where their illicit activity can be traced/tracked.

 

[MrsDuck]

Short answer: Yes, it should be de-criminalized. Heavy regulated, but de-criminalized.

Agreed.

 

[mousefan73]

My friends in the Netherlands claim that their legalized prostitution really cuts down on all criminal activities associated such as rape, assault, trafficking. Makes sense to me. In terms of bettering the economy, I'm not sure how easy it would be for governments to collect taxes when it's a cash business tough. At least directly. Indirectly, there might be cost savings in having less focus on policing the related issues.

Disagree about the trafficking part. Ask your friend how many Dutch women are prostitutes in Holland? I guess not too many, if any.. Most are non-Dutch or come from migrant backgrounds. At least those I saw,, Asia, African and eastern european. Don't know the true definition on human trafficking, but these women IMO are primed/programmed to this life.

 

[Nick6300]

I think if there were ever a sweeping change to legalize it in the U.S. maybe we could make some money shorting Match stock, the company that also owns Tinder! It's at about $79.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Disagree about the trafficking part. Ask your friend how many Dutch women are prostitutes in Holland? I guess not too many, if any.. Most are non-Dutch or come from migrant backgrounds. Don't know the true definition on human trafficking, but these women IMO are primed/programmed to this life.

There's a show on Netflix Border something or rather I forget the actual name because there are multiple Border shows (one for the U.S, there was one for Canada I believe) where it deals with New Zealand and their airports.

Prostitution is legal in New Zealand with the same can't be coerced type stuff among other things. Anyways while it's never a fail safe I was honestly surprised at how adept the workers were at picking out the people who were traveling to New Zealand for the purpose of sex working. In New Zealand it is "prohibited for those on temporary visas, and immigration for and investment in sex work is prohibited" (exact wording per Wikipedia but that show touched on that topic time and again). While watching the show those who were caught were denied access to the country and sent back on a plane elsewhere. I'm sure that doesn't stop sex trafficking but I did find that interesting and watched how they would pick up things here and there.

 

[Nick6300]

Disagree about the trafficking part. Ask your friend how many Dutch women are prostitutes in Holland? I guess not too many, if any.. Most are non-Dutch or come from migrant backgrounds. At least those I saw,, Asia, African and eastern european. Don't know the true definition on human trafficking, but these women IMO are primed/programmed to this life.

I could be wrong but I think my friends meant in general the trafficking would be reduced if everyone legalized it. If just Netherlands and none of the surrounding countries than trafficking out from Netherland would still be in play, but not trafficking in.

It's a huge melting pot of cultures and people though, because in part, of how lax they are on many things. The legalization of heroin has interestingly created side effects. The black market might be reduced and some of the crime associated with the drugs. But heroin addicts commonly steal people's bikes with pocket lock picks and then resell them for 5 Euros. Many of my friends support this by buying these from the addicts because they're cheaper, and any nice bike gets stolen.

 

[Kennywood]

Like the hooker said, "It's been a business doing pleasure with you."