Berkeley Weighs Legalizing Prostitution

[Fausto]

This should be interesting.

BERKELEY, Calif. - Residents of this left-leaning city will have a chance to vote in November on whether they think prostitution should be a crime.

An advocacy group announced Wednesday it had gathered nearly 3,200 signatures, about 1,000 more than needed to get the initiative on the ballot.

The measure would have little more than symbolic value, since it wouldn't undo laws against prostitution. But Robyn Few, head of the Sex Workers Outreach Project, said a win at the polls would send an important message.

"What we're trying to do is build a groundswell here in California," she said.

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates was out of town and could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Earlier this year, the City Council declined to endorse decriminalizing prostitution.

 

[Electric Amish]

WOOHOO!!

I'm far from virginal and I'm rejoicing.

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Why?

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: MrsSkoorb
Why?

Few, who recently completed six months house arrest on federal charges of conspiring to commit prostitution, said decriminalizing prostitution is a civil rights issue.

"As long as something is illegal, it's going to remain unsafe and exploited. I want to see women be empowered to speak up and demand their rights," she said.

Decriminalization = regulation.

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: MrsSkoorb
Why?

Few, who recently completed six months house arrest on federal charges of conspiring to commit prostitution, said decriminalizing prostitution is a civil rights issue.

"As long as something is illegal, it's going to remain unsafe and exploited. I want to see women be empowered to speak up and demand their rights," she said.

Decriminalization = regulation.

Yeah but still....that just seems somehow inherently wrong....hence my asking "why!"

 

[Electric Amish]

Yeah but still....that just seems somehow inherently wrong....hence my asking "why!"

It's wrong to give people free reign of their sexual practices?

It's just like any other commodity. Why shouldn't it be for sale?

 

[woowoo]

Would they take coupons?

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: MrsSkoorb

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: MrsSkoorb
Why?

Few, who recently completed six months house arrest on federal charges of conspiring to commit prostitution, said decriminalizing prostitution is a civil rights issue.

"As long as something is illegal, it's going to remain unsafe and exploited. I want to see women be empowered to speak up and demand their rights," she said.

Decriminalization = regulation.

Yeah but still....that just seems somehow inherently wrong....hence my asking "why!"

Eh....depends how you look at it.

You can take the stance that prostitution is wrong in all cases and this is therefore bad since more people might pay for a session with a hooker knowing that they're not going to be arrested.

-or-

You can take the stance that people are going to pay for/sell sex no matter what the law says so you might as well legalize and regulate the industry to protect the people selling sex from abusive and exploitation at the hands of their pimps.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I hope that someone kills me if I ever get to a point where paying for sex becomes a real option.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
I hope that someone kills me if I ever get to a point where paying for sex becomes a real option.

*cocks gun*

So where would you like it? In the head or the chest?

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
I hope that someone kills me if I ever get to a point where paying for sex becomes a real option.

*starts lining up his shot now*

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: MrsSkoorb
Why?

Few, who recently completed six months house arrest on federal charges of conspiring to commit prostitution, said decriminalizing prostitution is a civil rights issue.

"As long as something is illegal, it's going to remain unsafe and exploited. I want to see women be empowered to speak up and demand their rights," she said.

Decriminalization = regulation.

Exactly.

It's legal in most of Nevada, though individual counties can make it illegal within their bounds, as can cities. The three most populous counties have made it illegal, but it has still made a significant difference in terms of prostitution-related crimes. e.g. far fewer pimps slapping their 'hos around, since they know if they keep it up said 'hos will go work at one of the brothels out of town. Far fewer (illegal) pimps and 'hos as well. Not to mention that the brothels give money to the communities they're in. My parents' town (Dayton) got a new library with help from a few of the brothels in Mound House, just 5 minutes up the road.

Brothels are regulated by the state board of health; working girls have to be tested for STDs regularly (I think once a month minimum) and use condoms. I can't even remember when a working girl has been the victim of an assault or murder; if a john gets rough inside a brothel there's usually a large, angry black man beating the crap out of him within a few seconds.

Bottom line: legalized prostitution makes it safer for everyone and drastically reduces the rates of certain crimes. (Besides the obvious no-longer-a-crime of prostitution)

 

[ElFenix]

so now the city will be collecting the fee from the whores instead of a guy in a cadillac.

i wonder how much illegal prostitution happens in nevada?

 

[dquan97]

one problem: have you seen the women in Berkeley? :Q

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Yeah but still....that just seems somehow inherently wrong....hence my asking "why!"

It's wrong to give people free reign of their sexual practices?

It's just like any other commodity. Why shouldn't it be for sale?

I know that....I guess my personal opinion on sex is just coming through....sigh.

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
so now the city will be collecting the fee from the whores instead of a guy in a cadillac.

i wonder how much illegal prostitution happens in nevada?

I can't find a link to the numbers, but in Clark County (Vegas area) it's still high. But in counties where regulated prostitution is legal it's basically non-existant. Girls looking to turn tricks clearly enjoy working for a state-regulated company.

 

[joohang]

Originally posted by: MrsSkoorb

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Yeah but still....that just seems somehow inherently wrong....hence my asking "why!"

It's wrong to give people free reign of their sexual practices?

It's just like any other commodity. Why shouldn't it be for sale?

I know that....I guess my personal opinion on sex is just coming through....sigh.

I more or less share your view but I am all for legal protection of prostitutes.

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Originally posted by: joohang

Originally posted by: MrsSkoorb

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Yeah but still....that just seems somehow inherently wrong....hence my asking "why!"

It's wrong to give people free reign of their sexual practices?

It's just like any other commodity. Why shouldn't it be for sale?

I know that....I guess my personal opinion on sex is just coming through....sigh.

I more or less share your view but I am all for legal protection of prostitutes.

Legal protection? Absolutely! I guess to be honest, I have never really give this topic any serious thought!

 

[Atomicus]

I don't want my taxes to go into federal research for STD cures if they do legalize it. If they catch something, I'll be damned if I let them live for not earning a living without selling their bodies.

 

[Amused]

Repeat after me:

It's nobody's business what an individual does, so long as it harms no one else.

Prostitution is a victimless crime. Thus it is a violation of no one's rights. Therefore the laws against it ARE a violation of individual rights.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Atomicus
I don't want my taxes to go into federal research for STD cures if they do legalize it. If they catch something, I'll be damned if I let them live for not earning a living without selling their bodies.

Fine. Then end all federal funding for all disease research and let the private sector take care of that.

This, folks, is why socialism is anathema to freedom.

 

[sillymofo]

Originally posted by: Atomicus
I don't want my taxes to go into federal research for STD cures if they do legalize it. If they catch something, I'll be damned if I let them live for not earning a living without selling their bodies.

So what would you like to see your federal funds doing? (if there's any left, wait, there aren't any).

STDs will always be around, and by legalizing prostitution, if anything, that's extra revenue on taxes that would help the government. And if you loathe prostitutes or their associates, then why would you be catching STDs anyway?

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Atomicus
I don't want my taxes to go into federal research for STD cures if they do legalize it. If they catch something, I'll be damned if I let them live for not earning a living without selling their bodies.

*sigh* Legalization and regulation should greatly decrease the STD rate. Think about it. :roll:

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Originally posted by: Amused
Repeat after me:

It's nobody's business what an individual does, so long as it harms no one else.

Prostitution is a victimless crime. Thus it is a violation of no one's rights. Therefore the laws against it ARE a violation of individual rights.

I agree upon thought. My issue just lies with why someone would WANT to sell sex....which is not really involved here, just a personal opinion!

 

[EXman]

Originally posted by: Amused
Repeat after me:

It's nobody's business what an individual does, so long as it harms no one else.

Prostitution is a victimless crime. Thus it is a violation of no one's rights. Therefore the laws against it ARE a violation of individual rights.

I bet you'd be singing a different tune if your Dad gave you Mom AIDS from some crackwhore.

Also do you think %100 of the women do this by choice? ever heard of Forced prostitution?

hmm any more holes you want in this theory?