How can anyone question the illegalization of prostitution?

Question

Why wouldn't anyone want prostitution to be illegal when it leads to overpopulation, STDs, and generations of homeless, illegitimate children on the streets? Do we really want to contribute to these problems by legalizing prostitution in the U.S.? If prostitution was universally banned, I don't think these problems would be as rampant in the world as they are today.

Answer 1

Doesn't sex do this in general....?
Lead to more people, STDs and generations of people....?

Take two people. Both adults. They can have sex, and it's completely legal .... unless money changes hands.

Why does the act of money changing hands -- between the same two people -- suddenly make it an illegal action?

And statistically -- it's making prostitution illegal that causes all these problems. In places where prostitution is legal and licensed, most of these problems are much less severe. Do the research and check the facts and statistics.

Answer 2

I think you'll find that the facts you quoted are wrong.

Let's take Amsterdam, where prostitution is legal and levels of STDs are low. The majority of prostitutes are working through college and while the authorities acknowledge that some have drug problems the numbers are very small. The prostitutes pay tax and receive health inspections. There is no sex without a condom.

I live in Hamburg where prostitution is also legal in various areas of the city. The prostitutes actually work right outside the police station on the Reeperbahn. Could you ask for a safer work environment. Again, there are low rates of STDs and pregnancies (that goes for most of continental Europe) and homeless prostitutes are non existent.

Answer 3

Prostitution -is- almost universally banned in the US but it still exists.

Perhaps we should look at the problem from a different angle. What if we made it legal but with regulations. Prostitutes would have to get checked for STDs regularly, would have to stay in certain neighborhoods, etc. It might cut down on sex crimes.

There wouldn't be illegitimate children (actually I don't think women who make their living having sex want to get pregnant anyway!) Or overpopulation or homelessness--I mean after all these people are making a living!

They do it in other countries and it works pretty well! You can't legislate it out of existance.

Answer 4

One could argue that the reason that prostitution leads to these things is because it's illegal and therefore prostitutes are marginalized. Making prostitutes illegal doesn't stop prostitution; it just drives it underground. Perhaps if prostitution were accepted as a fact of life, legalized, and licensed, it would be possible to make sure that prostitutes are fully educated about STDs, have access to the best possible birth control, and get regular medical exams. It might also help with their personal safety if they could operate above-board.

I still find the whole idea distasteful, though, even if I think there are some legitimate arguments to be made in favour of it.

Answer 5

The argument is that most of these negative impacts are in fact the result of driving prostitution underground.
Where prostitution is legal (eg Australia, Netherlands) there are strict laws about how the industry operates that prevent disease and pregnancy (I really think you are drawing rather a long bow to suggest that overpopulation is caused by prostitutes).
Making something illegal does not make it go away. It just prevents authorities from having any control over it.

Answer 6

First off I think prostitution is horrid. Yet we sure aren't stopping it and we never will be able to. If it were legalized over half those who do it, wouldn't be allowed to legally (because they have diseases) so even legalizing it won't help. I think some people just feel it is a waste of time to have it illegal when nothing really gets done about it. And agree or not - people fight for a woman's right to have an abortion, but she can't sell sex? Why not? I mean I don't ever want to do that, or want my daughters too, but really besides morality why not? Because the government shouldn't regulate our morality.

Answer 7

actually nevada has proven to be fine with legalized prostitution. there has not been one case of an STD spread through legal prostitution since its mandatory for a doctor to test the workers once a week and for the workers to use condoms.
almost all sex-workers use birthcontrol.
(I'm sure the female sex workers who want to get pregnant ensure that the father is their significant other and not their client.)

most sex workers make a lot of money in legalized, regulated prostitution. all sex workers need to be lisenced and can't be employed until they are 21 years of age. some make up to $1 million a year. I've never heard of a homeless legal sex worker.

illegal prostiution does have most of the problems you mention as well as underage workers, abuse (sexual, physical, and mental) by 'pimps', drug use, and is generally linked with organized crime and gangs

legal prostitution is safe and a good business.

we live in capitalist country. we should interfere between the sales of goods and services that consenting adults have with one another.

Answer 8

We have legal brothels in Nevada. There has not been once documented case of an STD transmission from any of the brothels to date. Street prostitutes are another matter entirely.
Banning an activity through a governmental edict, while the activity is not looked upon as illegal by the population, is one great way to build up criminal enterprises who will provide that activity.

Answer 9

Why is your position not true in Europe? Because the government controls the health standards and condoms are used. Prostitutes do not get pregnant because it impedes their ability to ply their trade. You are making a generalized statement that has not been proven true in countries where prostitution has been legalized and regulated.

Answer 10

The anti prostitution law is a bunch of incompetent garbage, sex workers and sex buyers are not criminals, and it can be regulated and taxed as is done in Nevada and all provinces of Canada which would make it a safe environment, and police officers nationwide have real crimes to deal with.