Legalize/Decriminalize Prostitution?

[brewer]

I've been thinking about this for most of the summer because I had a chance encounter with two ladies who were basically prostituting themselves to survive. I know, you're saying yeah right, chance encounter (nudge-nudge, wink-wink, tripped and fell into them).

Incident 1: An 18 year old female walking down a neighborhood street sobbing her eyes out in the rain. I had just left a dental appointment. I pulled over and asked if I could help and she asked for a ride. Knew she was in big trouble, what 18yr old female willingly gets into a 60yr old mans car. She stated that she had been kicked out of her parents house and needed a lift to her friends house. She had only the clothes she was wearing and a cell phone, no money. She admitted that she had been kicked out because 1) she wouldn't get a job, 2) she was addicted to meth and 3) she was trading sex for drugs, money, food and shelter. During the ride she admitted that she thought she might be pregnant, might have hep c and might have HIV/STD's. I offered to take her to a local treatment facility ( the one free one we have in the city) but she refused. I got her parents name and number and let them know where she had gone.

Incident 2: My wife and I were leaving the casino and saw a woman crying out by the parking structure. We asked if we could help. Again, only wanted a ride. She admitted that she was prostituting for money, free lance (no pimp or service). The john had stiffed her for the money and ruffed her up. She didn't want to call the police or report the incident to the casino. She was a single mom working to pay for herself and her share of child support. She wouldn't say why she was not with the child. We dropped her off at a very seedy motel.

So, I've been wondering if prostitution were legalized/decriminalized would either one of these women been in a better position in life. My gut says maybe yes. Wouldn't necessarily help with the meth addiction. Could very well have helped with the health issues, money issues, violence issues........... I'm not saying that legalization will necessarily stop illegal prostitution activities.

I know that some of this was covered about a year ago in a thread called Legalization. Thought I'd ask for updated opinions. Attached is a pro/com website for the issue.

http://prostitution.procon.org/view.reso...eID=000115

[Alex K]

There are enough countries where it is legal, so you can compare and cross-check. In Germany they can get social security and everything.

[The Valkyrie]

Legal here in NZ and parts of Oz, too.

The girls get protection from exploitation from pimps and the customers get protection from potential health problems because the girls are required to undergo regular medical checks.

It's a win-win.

[Chad32]

Legalize it. Tax it. Regulate it. There are places where it's accepted, and the girls get tested and paid well and all that, and there are much fewer problems. You'd think we would have learned this kind of thing during prohibition, when they made alcohol illegal, but some people don't care about history or facts.

[Esquilax]

Legalizing would also help remove the stigma of it as an occupation (over time, obviously) which would probably be the best help for those in bad situations there could be. Imagine how much easier their job would be if "good, upstanding citizens," didn't look down on them, how reduced the incidences of assault against them would be if they could go to the police about it without being "just" another beaten up prostitute who probably brought it on herself, somehow.

Allowing people who do no harm to operate under the law, out in the open, reduces the risk in so many ways it's actually sort of amazing to see societies not taking the obvious pragmatic option under this unrealistic view of just being able to stamp it all out somehow.

[Faith No More]

Prostitutes are often targets for sexual assault and other crimes, because people know they can't go to the cops due to the fact that prostitution is illegal. Legalizing it would go a long way to reduce the violence against prostitutes, because they could actually report when someone assaults them.

It's one of those things that's going to happen no matter what, so it's best to regulate it and keep it as safe as possible. And those cons in the link are not very convincing at best.

[brewer]

And those cons in the link are not very convincing at best.

I agree. Didn't make them, just report. There are even more if you surf around the site much. The rest are just as unconvincing.

[Longhorn]

Yes.



Well that was easy. Coffee anyone?

[Mermaid]

Strongly support legalizing for several reasons already stated, and also because fundamentally, nothing is more yours than your own body and you are the only person who is allowed to make decisions about it. I think it's appalling that it's not legal.

[Minimalist]

It should not be illegal to sell something that you can give away for free.