Achilles

April 20th, 2015 at 7:10 PM ^

I don't understand why prostitution is illegal. If a woman is selling sex, who is the government to tell her she can't? 

Joined: 03/18/2015

MGoPoints: 1766

JHendo

April 20th, 2015 at 7:17 PM ^

Because it's what keeps human trafficking in business. That said, it's the oldest profession and it's not going to stop any time soon. Might as well regulate it in an attempt to clean it up and keep an eye on it as much as possible (for the sake of the girls and for the "johns"). It will never happen, but I don't think it's an unreasonable concept.

Joined: 10/25/2008

MGoPoints: 13993

Mogily

April 20th, 2015 at 7:22 PM ^

I disagree that it will never happen. Prostitution is widespread and/or legal in most of the civilized world(including the US and Michigan). I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes legal within the next 25ish years as attitudes become more liberal. 

Joined: 04/20/2015

MGoPoints: 26

WolvinLA2

April 20th, 2015 at 7:31 PM ^

Only the illegal prostitution keeps human trafficking in business.  In Nevada where prostitution is legal, there is no human trafficking because there are no pimps and no women are forced to do it against their will.  And they get paid real dollars.  And because what they're doing is legal, they're able to go to the cops if something bad happens.  It's safer for everyone.  That's the way it should be.   

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

JHendo

April 20th, 2015 at 7:44 PM ^

Unfortunately, human trafficking is most certainly still a major issue in Nevada. I have little doubt no victims are in the properly registered brothels, but as the most populated counties in Nevada still have outlawed prostitution, there's plenty market out there for pimps. Even so, there will always people out there who rather not play by the rules even if it is made legal everywhere. I imagine that will decrease the instances of trafficking, but it won't eliminate all of the sex slaves in the country.

Joined: 10/25/2008

MGoPoints: 13993

JHendo

April 20th, 2015 at 11:06 PM ^

Never said I wasn't in favor of making legal. One of my first comments in this thread was actually supporting legalizing it. I was just commenting against people who believe it will wipe out sex related human trafficking in the US, which it won't. My interest in legalizing it mostly revolves around lowering the unneeded dangers it causes the prostitutes and their johns, as well as to clean up the health risks involved.

Joined: 10/25/2008

MGoPoints: 13993

ken725

April 20th, 2015 at 8:02 PM ^

I saw a disgusting pimp harassing a cocktail waitress couple weeks ago in Vegas.

As I was walking up on the group, I thought the man who, turned out to be a pimp, and the cocktail waitress were friends. He had one around her and his other arm was holding her forearm. What I noticed as I got closer was that she was uncomfortable and his left arm on her forearm was basically meant to hold her there. As I passed by directly in front of them, she struggled out his grasp and gently nugged him away with the small tray she was holding. He was still holding her arm and pulled her back in to whisper something to her. 

I hear the pimp yell, "well, f^&* you b*&^%" By that time I was already at least 15 yards past them. I look back and she was able to walk away from the pimp and get back to her shift.

Joined: 10/26/2008

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WolvinLA2

April 20th, 2015 at 8:08 PM ^

And that happens because it's illegal.  If prostitution were legal in LV like it is in Northern Nevada, the pimp part of the equation would be unnecessary.  I'm not saying it's a perfect system in places where it's legal, but it's a lot better than what you're describing.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

WolvinLA2

April 20th, 2015 at 7:57 PM ^

I meant when it is done legally.  Sure, there are always people who break the law.  

Setting a minimum wage doesn't mean that there aren't businesses who decide to break labor laws and pay their employees below the minimum, but that doesn't mean that a minimum wage doesn't go a long way to reduce such a thing.  

Setting an age minimum to drink alcohol doesn't completely erase underage drinking, but it greatly reduces it compared to having no law at all, correct?

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

WolvinLA2

April 20th, 2015 at 8:36 PM ^

It was an analogy. My point was that anytime you legalize anything, they can still be done or used outside of the laws. But it reduces the issues. Consider areas where marijuana has been legalized. When you remove the need for drug dealers and you're able to regulate it, you eliminate a part of the problem. Are some people still buying it illegally? Sure. But you're able to reduce a lot of the problems. Same can be done with prostitution. When the government can regulate it and there isn't a need for pimps, the problems are reduced. Are they completely eliminated? Of course not.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

JHendo

April 20th, 2015 at 8:37 PM ^

Considering there are actually only 19 legal brothels in Nevada, I'd say out of your hyperbole only a few hundred are legal prostitutes. That means there are a bunch out there the the police haven't found/rescued yet. I think the small amount of confirmed human traffic victims is a testament to how hard it is to find these people.

Joined: 10/25/2008

MGoPoints: 13993

Honk if Ufer M…

April 21st, 2015 at 11:17 PM ^

The sex trade isn't the only thing leading to slavery. The same motivations for slavery have existed a long time.

But as far as the sex related slavery in Nevada, prostitution is still illegal in most of the state so you'd have to actually know more details about what is or ins't causing those numbers to change in what areas of the state and why.

Joined: 02/22/2015

MGoPoints: 591

Tater

April 20th, 2015 at 7:52 PM ^

Using human trafficking as a "reason" for keeping prostitution illegal is a bit of a reach.  But it would be interesting to know, for example, if there is more human trafficking in Vegas, where it is legal, or if there is less.  

Another question: what if the fact that prostitution is illegal is what actually "keeps human trafficking in business?"

More questions than answers here...

Joined: 08/13/2008

MGoPoints: 30584

Rabbit21

April 20th, 2015 at 9:52 PM ^

I grew up in small town Nevada and while I kind of hate myself for knowing this I wanted to clarify where it's legal and where it isn't.  If a county is above a certain level of population then a brothel cannot operate there.  So in Vegas, Reno, and Carson City it's illegal.  The Reno houses are closer than the Vegas houses because Washoe county(which Reno is in) is long and thin(I know, I know). So It's easier to for the places to set up shop right on the county line(Kind of like how there are a ton of tatoo parlors and adult bookstores in Texas right after you cross the Oklahoma border). 

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 30303

Mogily

April 20th, 2015 at 8:33 PM ^

I've travelled across South America, where prostitution is legal in almost every country. I'm sure there is some human trafficking going on, but they can't be very successful because of all the normal beautiful local girls who choose to become prostitutes. In areas where prostitution is legal, it tends to be a very high paying job for women. There's no way criminal elements can put out a similar product and be competitive on price(kind of like how marijuana legalization has removed the criminal element entirely from Colorado).

Joined: 04/20/2015

MGoPoints: 26

Mogily

April 20th, 2015 at 7:19 PM ^

I'm in full agreement here. Prostitution is deeply ingrained in the culture of the world, and to be subjected to public shame because of it is simply crazy. Men have certain needs, and after a while of marriage women stop taking care of these needs. The only solution is to get them taken care of elsewhere.

Joined: 04/20/2015

MGoPoints: 26

xtramelanin

April 20th, 2015 at 9:06 PM ^

and how long do you expect it to be for the next time?

as to wives, what about the bold idea that we love and respect them, forsaking all others?  didn't us married guys take a vow for that, or is that vow kind of a temporary or contingent thing? 

Joined: 12/09/2014

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