American Thinker:
Is decriminalizing sex work a way to protect women from oppression and abuse?
Rhode Island is considering a proposal to decriminalize prostitution. The proposal is supported by the ACLU and various sex work advocacy groups like the SOAR institute and COYOTE (“Call off your tired old ethics”). Their argument is that decriminalizing prostitution reduces violence against sex workers and empowers women.
It would seem that elected officials have short memories — Rhode Island has already experimented with decriminalized sex work, and the consequences were disastrous.
For 29 years (1980–2009), because of a legal loophole, Rhode Island bannedoutdoor solicitation — seeking clients by standing on street corners or walking the streets. But it legalized indoor prostitution — sex work that takes place through brothels, strip clubs, massage parlors, escort agencies, and the online market.
During that period, Rhode Island became a sex tourist destination, functioning as the red-light district for all of New England. In addition to outright prostitution, sex businesses concealed as spas, nail salons, health centers, modeling agencies, and other “thinly veiled houses of prostitution” posed as legitimate businesses, offering “acupressure,” “body work,” or “table showers.” The state became a Petri dish for all sorts of crime— sexual assault, murder, and armed robbery, to name just a few.
Given this history, how is it possible that legislators are even considering going down this road again? The Rhode Island experiment debunks the claimed benefits of legalization. more here
Don’t “decriminalize” it, legalize it. Make something a criminal activity and guess what? It atracks criminals. Issue licences which require frequent health inspections etc. Once legal so the prostitutes can be openly protected by law enforcement instead of pursued by it the pimps will be out of work.
How are these tramps always thought of as victims when they’re the ones exploiting a human weakness and biological urge.
OK gin blossom, name one profession that doesn’t “exploit a human weakness and (or) biological urge”.
How can anyone rationalize making it illegal to sell something that is legal to give away?
It seems okay in Nevada.
Nothing I’m interested in, but as a libertarian I say fine with me.
@Just Al:
Did you actually read the article?
“ The state became a Petri dish for all sorts of crime— sexual assault, murder, and armed robbery, to name just a few.”
Decriminalizing prostitution is the gateway to pardoning the whores in Congress.
Legalize and tax the hell out of it.
Make the johns sign up for FaceBook.
That should get rid of it pronto.
Legal prostitution will destroy our society.
On the other hand, kamala harris will finally have competition.
Great. They’re just going to be okay with human trafficking.
As if decriminalizing prostitution is going to suddenly make the pimps into kind, gentle employers who provide insurance and work breaks.
Kind of like banning guns will suddenly make criminals so sorry that they hand in their illegal guns and turn to a life of honesty.
I don’t think any girl every grew up hoping the prostitution was going to be her career. What drove her into hooking was bad “boyfriends”, drugs, alcohol, bad homelife, pimps, more drugs, physical violence etc etc. You can legalize it and most of it will stay behind closed doors and it will still be assailed by the thugs, gang-bangers, the mob, the pimps , anywhere there is easy cash money these vultures will gather. I would also bet cash money that any crimes reported by the victims will be treated as second class and only get a perform investigation. In addition there will be so many reported and nothing done it will be back to business as usual except the cops lose a tool in stopping the worst of it. You want to make a good start then actually have hard drug laws with hard labour prisons and the death penalty for multiple convicted pushes and suppliers. Take drugs out of the equation completely and new recruits to prostitution drop by half overnight.
@Anonymous May 13, 2019 at 1:30 pm
> Legal prostitution will destroy our society.
Well, that changes my mind.
Check again Al, it’s about victimization not free market exchanges.
I guess “prostitute” became “sex worker” about the same time that “baby killing” became “women’s healthcare”. Progressives are always changing the language to obfuscate what they are really up to.
There is no such a thing as a victimless crime. Both the Johns and the hookers become victims. And good luck trying to ban prostitution or legalize and call it good, it’s only the world’s oldest profession. With lawyers and politicians being the second oldest profession.
I guess this is to legitimize Gillibrand, Cortez, and Harris?
Gillibrand and her donkey, Cortez and her unicorn, and Harris and her “what can Brown do for you?”
izlamo delenda est …