Why is prostitution still illegal in the U.S.?

Question

Aside from the obvious Puritanical religious reasons, can anyone give me any LOGICAL reasons as to why prostitution is still illegal in the United States today? Some claim that it is for health reasons but this argument is clearly bogus. In countries & regions where it is legal (and regulated) the instance of sexually transmitted diseases is actually lower (per capita) than in regions where it is illegal. In addition, if it's regulated the prostitutes can get regular medical attention and safer workplaces. Plus there would be additional revenues for the government to collect on. So...if no one is getting hurt...while keeping health & safety issues under closer scrutiny...generating legitimate revenues for both patron & government...why is this still illegal?

Answer 1

Because at the moment, the lawmakers still cannot figure out the benefits of legalizing prostitution. Don't worry, eventually the American society will evolve. Looking at how morality evolves fast in USA compared to many countries, it will not be long for prostitution to be legalized - specially now that there is an growing proportion of less educated females who will find difficulty finding possible jobs outside prostitution. If it is legal to sell your blood or any body organ, why is it illegal to lease your vagina?

Answer 2

People assume that when you argue for legal prostitution, you have a vested interest (a penchant for prostitutes for instance).

Not too many with a public name want to go on record as pro-prostitution.

Doesn't matter how illogical the law is.

In the Netherlands, people are very conservative in the sense that everyone wants business (whatever the vice) to be acceptable. This pro-business environment lead to a long history of tolerance for others for the sake of keeping good business relationships.

Luckily a very strong progressive movement developed there which added philosophical ideals to the aregument for legal prostitution, marijuana, hash, and drug-treatment programs.

Perhaps the door is not to the left but to the right.

Answer 3

It's legal in Story County in Nevada (I think that's the only place). You're right, the logical reasons are Puritanical in origin and it is a mystery to me as well. Many other foreign countries have legalized prostitution and the health issues are addressed as well as being much safer for both the prostitutes and customers. I don't see it changing anytime soon, especially with Rev. Bush at the helm.......It doesn't make sense to me either but the U.S. who claims to be a world supermega power is sometimes still ancient in our thinking........

Answer 4

Well, logically there is no reason. If the government wanted to look at things logically they would take the money they spend busting hookers and John's and invest it in a mandatory sexual health law for workers, require the to register, and everyone is happy. Then again another reason might be is the gov. isn't collecting tax from them.. and they don't like that

Answer 5

it is illegal because they don't pay tax
why do people think hookers are the cause of AIDS oh gosh some people are so ignorant
most hookers take pride in there self's and make sure they stay healthy
if people want to go with hookers that don't take care of there self's that is there look out don't tell me you can not see a difference in a clean hooker to a infected one who is on every drug going because you can
i think some people need to wake up and smell the coffee
and HELLO if you wont wear a Durex
watch out there is AIDS about and believe it or not you can catch it from anyone
good luck to hookers if i was younger and had the guts to go do it i would
they have a hard time out there i am not on about the drug taking hookers they need help god bless them
i am on about the upper class hookers good luck to them
a wife is a unpaid hooker full stop in my eyes you still wait for payment to pay bills etc
now i no some one ain't gonna like what i just said but you loOK at it ok you get married you cook clean work your butt of for your man
then at the end of the mth you get some money at least a hooker gets payed for what they do right away
this is just what i think
respect to everyone
shaz

Answer 6

Technically prostitution itself is not "illegal"....However, solicitation of a person for sex for money is illegal. If you think about it...you typically see more "johns" getting arrested for solicitation than you see actual prostitues getting arrested. Drive down any Main Street in any big city in America and you will see prostitutes on the streets everywhere and the cops doing nothing to them. Then go check court records and you will find 10 times more arrests for solicitation than you will see for prostitution......The girls (whores, hookers, whatever) are just out to make a buck. The "johns" are just in need of ...whatever they cant get at home. The reason it is illegal is because many prostitutes and johns end up becoming victims of other more serious crimes. Just like a little weed smoking supposedly will lead you to becoming a full blown junkie....a little sex for money will lead you to getting killed....so says the Government anyway. I say...if the ho's are stupid enough to sell themselves to a stranger for sex...then they are stupid enough to get themselves a disease or killed...or whatever demise they might meet...same is true of the people who pay for sex...you are likely paing for more than just sex....20 dollars is a cheap price to pay for AIDS which sticks around forever, unlike the whore who usually leaves by morning!

Answer 7

Because politicians make the laws, and saying anything at all rational about prostitution or drugs in this country is political death. This is one of the few political issues where you really do have to blame the voters.

Answer 8

Some wives still need a job.. but all jokes aside, It really would be a health factor. A.I.D.S. Do I need to say anymore. Look how great the government is doing with regulations (F.E.M.A.)

Answer 9

A number of crimes involve sexual conduct. Rape, which has already been discussed as a crime against the person, is sometimes classified among these crimes. Fornication and adultery, in jurisdictions where these are crimes, are generally misdemeanors rather than felonies. Sodomy, incest, and bigamy are generally classified as felonies. Prostitution is probably the most common crime involving sex. There has been a modern trend in the United States to eliminate or restrict the scope of criminal statutes regulating sexual conduct, especially sexual activities among consenting adults.

A. Fornication

Unmarried people who have sexual intercourse or who cohabitate (live together as sexual partners) commit fornication. In the few jurisdictions that retain this as a crime, it is generally unenforced or prosecution is rare.

B. Adultery

Any married person who cohabits or has sexual intercourse with another person who is not his or her spouse has committed adultery, which is a crime in some but not all jurisdictions. A single act of adultery is not commonly punished. However, people who repeatedly commit adultery or publicize the fact may be prosecuted. Adultery means different things in different jurisdictions. In some, if only one of the two parties is married, the married person alone is guilty. In others, both parties are guilty even though only one party is married.

C. Sodomy

The crime of sodomy encompasses a variety of sexual acts. Sodomy may be committed by human partners of either the same or opposite sex, or between a human and an animal (bestiality). It may be done either by force, in which case the coerced party is considered a victim rather than an offender, or with consent. One type of sodomy involves the penetration of the male sex organ into the anal opening or the mouth of a man or woman. In some jurisdictions, oral stimulation of the female sex organ also constitutes sodomy. Some jurisdictions also define as sodomy sexual relations between members of the same sex (homosexuality), sexual contact with a corpse (necrophilia), and bestiality.

D. Incest

The statutory crime of incest consists of either cohabitation or sexual intercourse between closely related persons, such as between parent and child or between siblings. Jurisdictions vary in their definition of what degree of relationship constitutes incest—for example, whether sex between first cousins or step-relatives is criminal. Many jurisdictions restrict the crime to acts between blood relatives—that is, people who are related by birth rather than marriage.

E. Bigamy

A person who willfully and knowingly enters into a marriage before a prior marriage has been legally terminated by divorce, annulment, or death of the spouse commits the crime of bigamy. In a common exception, it is not bigamy for a person to remarry if his or her spouse has been missing for a specific number of years (often seven) and is not known by the person to be alive.

F. Prostitution

The crime of prostitution involves the exchange of sexual contact or favors for money or its equivalent. The crime of pandering involves the promotion of prostitution by enticing or procuring persons to engage in prostitution. Securing customers for prostitutes constitutes the crime of procuring. Managing the activities and contacts of prostitutes is a crime known as pimping. The terms pandering, procuring, and pimping are often used interchangeably.

Answer 10

It is legal in most of Nevada. But I agree with you, it should be legal in all 50 states.