“We cannot afford to chase people around who do things that we think are harmful to themselves,...If we had unlimited funds, we could go after every tiny societal problem.” - retired St. Lucie County judge, Cliff Barnes
The idea of legalizing prostitution is “absolutely absurd” to some U.S. politicians, while there are others who have been considering such a change and working toward making it happen. Recent raids on massage parlors and other venues has also prompted sex workers themselves to call for decriminalization.
Some of the common arguments in favor of ending the criminalization of prostitution are that it would improve working conditions for those in the industry, that it upholds the rights of the two consenting adults who are making a business arrangement, and that it would help to reduce the exploitation of many individuals.
"We aim to repeal statutes that criminalize consensual sexual exchange between adults and create a system that erases prostitution records for sex workers…so they can move on with their lives," - NYC Dem Senators J Ramos and J Salazar
There has been outrage at the suggestion from both sides, with bureaucrats insisting that such a move would be absurdly appalling to them, but so too would a move to likely end the war on drugs or war on terror. Lawmakers aren't the only ones who have voiced their discontent, some members of law enforcement have also ridiculed the idea.
"Drugs and prostitution, what a way for governments to make revenue. I think we've lost our humanity," - Sheriff B York
But, where is the humanity in arresting people over their peaceful consumption habits?
Lawmakers and law enforcers are shocked that such an idea is even being proposed. Allow grown adults to decide for themselves if they want to enter into a sexual encounter, peacefully and voluntarily? They just cannot bear to fathom such a future. Much of the public is also against the prospect, insisting that it isn't okay to stand by and allow two adults to enter into such an arrangement.
Early efforts to legalize prostitution had allegedly been seeking to purge organized crime in the industry, limit human trafficking altogether, and improve worker conditions by giving them access to healthcare and police services etc. However, it's suggested that there hasn't been much success to achieve those goals and that instead, in places around Europe where it is regulated, it's allegedly fueled a major multi-billion dollar industry as a result.
Despite the restrictions and efforts to stop this behavior, the truth is that regardless of the war against this profession, it's still widely prevalent. Advocates for sex workers in the U.S. have previously attempted to file a federal lawsuit, seeking to legalize prostitution. But it still remains illegal, with Nevada being the one exception.
There have been many bills that have been introduced over the years, in a number of states, that have been seeking to decriminalize or legalize prostitution.
It's also suspected that we might see this topic become a larger issue on the media landscape soon, with presidential candidates in 2020.
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