Should prostitution be made legal?

Question

It's been around for one hell of a long time and lets face it, it's never going to go away. Look at amsterdam, it's legal there and it works, it's safer and it get's rid of need for pimps. If it's legal they get taxed and that money goes back into a country. Most city's turn a blind eye to it anyway and have "safe zones" so lets go the whole hog and make it legal. It seems like this country is just trying to ignore it and brush it under the carpet instead of dealing with it.

Answer 1

Prostitution and drugs are made into a bigger problem by being illegal.



People forced to become prostitutes are made into criminals rather than victims and aren't given the help they need.



If you make something illegal you force it underground where regulations cannot be imposed. Legal prositutes would be undertaking paid employment and regular visits from the authorities could ensure they were being treated properly and not being forced into it. Regular screening could ensure they were all STD free and given the choice the customers would always choose a clean legal prostitute than gamble with an unlicensed one so the illegal trade would be killed.



The demand exists for prostitutes, there is no denying that, so it is better to ensure it is conducted in a safe, regulated environment rather than letting prostitutes be exploited.

Answer 2

Technically, prostitution is legal in Britain, however soliciting (approaching potential customers on the street) is illegal.



I think - to use a feminist phrase - "its her body, it's her right"... men accept the right of a woman to say "no" ... women must accept the right of a woman to say "yes, that'll be £ xxx please"



I would imagine that in a controlled and legal environment certain health and safety steps would be followed... clean women/men, condoms etc.



I should also think that those opposed to it are mainly pimps running the rackets, the human traffickers, and women who use sex as a weapon in their marriage.



After all, no one, under a legal system can be forced into the business.



No one gets funny with people providing certain services on your body... cutting hair, dental work, surgery, yet providing this service that can help the mental well being of a man or woman is frowned on.



Personally, I don't approve of two timing, and I never would, but I also notice that many men or women today that are simply going out with someone, or living together expect the same rights and privileges as that of a married couple. If you take the wedding vows, you promise to not sleep with anyone else, yet people who have not made any such promise or demanded from their partner are expected to do the same.



Don't get me wrong, I don't advocate sleeping around or cheating on your partner, but how would you ladies feel if a man said he felt betrayed because it was an unspoken rule that you don't go to the hairdressers and let someone else touch your hair?



My arguements above, in themselves, don't appear overly valid, but the idea is to get you to think about what you really have against or for prostitution?

Answer 3

I think all aspect of prostitution should be made legal, if you consider the benifits of this, instead of paying a fixed amount for a hand job,, BJ or the full bifter, you may get some sort of discount of special offer due to the competiion, such as two for the price of one, or mabey some sort of collection pionts system that entitles you to a free one once you have 10 points or so once you get your pionts card stamped.

Also you could pay by Visa or mastercard or american express if the money was short.

Answer 4

I fully agree with you but I don't think main stream USA (or Canada either) is ready for legal prostitution. It would certainly put police resources into areas where they're needed, but I think North America is too uptight for this step. I also happen to think that "soft drugs" like marijuana and hashish should be made legal, also like in Holland. Once again the tax argument can be used as well as the law-enforcement angle works too. Plus, there are people who would sat that weed and hash should be on the same line as alcohol and tobacco. I happen to agree.

Answer 5

The act of prostitution is not itself illegal.

Soliciting and pimping are.

The thing with decriminalising is that there also needs to be ample provision for sex workers to get out of the industry should they wish to do so with health and financial incentives and support.

And what is to be done about the vile creatures who buy and sell women in foreign ports just to keep them hostage in brothels?

It may have been around a long time but I don't see much progression

Answer 6

considering lowering the number of sex crimes to practically nil hell yes. But you would need to create a good legal structure to regulate all aspects. The Dutch system is pretty good where the job of prostitute is legally recognised. They have their own union etc. Many other European countries see it as a borderline activity which allows for a lot of abuse and plain human exploitation. In my country these places are considered as "bars" and the girls are inscribed as "waitresses". In my line of work i've met with more than one of these "waitresses" to know that they and the bar owners are borderlining between legal and illegal activity

Answer 7

Yes. Its the oldest profession so what does that tell you. it would be better if it was legal. it would take a lot of the other crime that goes with is away government gets tax money. And its not going away never will. they legislate everything else

Answer 8

I'm in favor of it for two reasons:



1) What someone does with their body is their own business, period.



2) By legalizing a behavior you take it away from the criminal underground, which by definition makes it cleaner, safer, regulated, and taxed.

Answer 9

I don't think it should be either legal or illegal in itself. However I think the law should rigorously CONTROL it so that aspects of it which are despicable, like people trafficking, under-age girls, pimping, violence, streetwalking etc. would be absolutely banned and penalised, while the act of selling sex itself would be ignored - it will always go on anyway.

Answer 10

I've got no problem with legalizing it. It makes no sense that you can give it away all you want for free, but as soon as you charge for it, it's a crime. It's ridiculous.



The only provision I would put on it is this : if you engage in it (buying or selling) you can't use any of my tax dollars to pay for diseases you catch. If you want to engage in risky behavior, that's your choice, as long as you don't force me to pay for the consequences.

Answer 11

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I am 100% positive. They should all be licensed, and I'd even offer to give each one a rating based on their performance. They could have up to two appeals if they were unhappy with the rating I gave them. I'm willing to concede that they might not have been at their best for the first one.

Answer 12

Prostitution is legal - so long as there is no soliciting in public places.Any two concenting adults can have whatever sex they like and can exchange money or gift tokens or whatever, so long as it on their own premisis. It is, after all, the oldest profession!!

Answer 13

Just because it is around a long time and "never" going to go away, does not make sufficient basis for legality.



Also, just because the govt can make money on an activity also does not make it desirable for the community as well.

Answer 14

Maybe it is time to make it legal to protect the girls. But if we make it legal does it entitle them to a pension and minimum wage/ tax credit? It should!

Answer 15

No. No-one should pay for sex, it's a human right...like air.



Instead, everybody should be free to ask any unmarried person for sex - and the right for refusal should be banned.



Once a couple is married, they should be allow exclusivity.

Answer 16

Yes. like drugs, it cannot be stopped. They should make it legal so that prostitutes can have better lives.

Answer 17

It's already legal: Senators and Congressmen (YES! Of all political stripes!!!)

Answer 18

I agree with you, it should be legalised. Don't understand why governments try to persuade us that this is something indecent. Suppression only helps to support criminality and women-slave trade.

Answer 19

Yes, legalising prostitution will benefit society in many ways, drugs too.

Answer 20

The government would love to legalize it so they can tax it.

Answer 21

It is certainly an area that warrants investigation, but we need to remember that the person selling themselves is a victim as they need to be protected from harm.

Answer 22

Yeah indeed..here are some stats.



UK-Rape cases in 2005, 87-000

Holland -rape cases in 2005 33..

Answer 23

Yes! I'm fed up of putting 'masseuse' on my tax returns!

Answer 24

yes as long as its vetted i.e Aids tests done and taxes paid etc etc

Answer 25

Yes with certain restrictions!!!

Answer 26

nobody loses by legalizing it. should have been done a long time ago!

Answer 27

If its cheap bring it on,whats not got from her in doors can always be got elsewhere

Answer 28

Legalizing prostitution would be another step toward degrading our society.

Answer 29

Why not? Its going to go on regardless!

Answer 30

hell yeah baby! us guys need that for when we are single and lonely and depressed.

Answer 31

yes.

Answer 32

yes.

Answer 33

It's NOT illegal, but soliciting is (UK)

Answer 34

Let me think..... NO!!

Answer 35

it is isn,t it?

Answer 36

NO you idiot.