Should prostitution be legalized?
918990
Absolutely.\n\nProstitution--just like drug use--has been around since the beginning of time and no amount of legislation is going to make it go away. History shows that criminalizing a certain individual choice is never a solution--it tends to only push the behavior underground, increase crime, and decrease the safety of those who participate (e.g. Prohibition and abortion pre-Roe v. Wade).\n\nLegalization, coupled with heavy regulation, will reduce the prevalence and spread of STDs, give the rights and protections that come with legitimacy to those who work in the sex industry, and all-but destroy the networks of crime that have sprung up around prostitution.\n\nSlap a sin tax on it, like they do for booze and cigarettes, and use the revenue to fund a licensing program implementing mandatory STD testing for sex workers every six months or so. Why not? Not to mention the huge amount of cash that would be saved/earned from the ensuing drop in crime, hike in property values, etc. \n\nAlso, in the long run, legalizing prostitution will greatly lighten the burden on our health care system, as regulating the industy would reduce rates of STDs, especially AIDS. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.\n\nThere's no arguing with data: regulating prostitution has been shown to reduce crime, levels of HIV infection, divorce rates, and incidence of rape and teenage prostitution.
789302
It is not a federal issue.  It is up to the states to make prostitution legal or not.  That is inherently a matter of state law.  Nevada is the only state that I am aware of that has decriminalized prostitution in all but Clark County (Las Vegas).  It is still highly regulated for the safety of the customers.  Now that they're legal, the brothels have to pay taxes and comply with health requirements like latex condoms every time.  One brothel (Mustang Ranch, I think) was seized by the IRS because they did not accurately report their income.  So there are some detriments to being legal.
483701
Prostitution and drug pushing are two different acts and should be kept separate in legal and moral terms. When a person sells her/his body for money, it demeans the act of sexual intercourse into a purely business transaction.If the person selling sex has a transmittable disease, the other person may get it and, in turn spread it to others. The results can be ugly, and occasionally fatal, as with AIDS.\nDrug pushing, on the other hand, is intended to keep people addicted to some substance that has the power to kill. The people pushing the drugs are really helping the big drug lords in this and other countries to become rich,and they seldom are caught. Afghanistan, for example, is the world's largest producer of opium, and by buying this product the user is really helping the Taliban and the friends of Osama bin Laden. You remember him, don't you? He was the mastermind behind the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing more than 3,000 innocent people.\nIf you know these things, why would you want to make drug pushing or prostitution legal?
1050192
I think prostitution is wrong, bad & unhealthy. But even if prostitution is a BAD choice, it should still be a LEGAL choice.\n\nAnd I also feel we could limit & control prostitution better if it were legal. Child prostitution would be easier to find & stop.  Prostitutes could more easily report rapists as Johns could report on theft. We could mandate STD checks. And lets not forget additional revenue for Uncle Sam!\n\nAgain, I think prostitution is a disgusting choice, but it should still be the individuals choice in a free society.
24032
Yes, marijuana should be legalized.  If you were to put the stats together, you would see that many, many more rapes, murders, thefts, assaults, fatal car crashes, deadly occupational accidents, and various other crimes have been committed under the influence of alcohol.  Recently, a young man was arrested for murdering his mother. His line of defense was that he was under the influence of Marijuana.  Marijuana does not make one aggressive in the least. Anyone that does or has smoked will testify to that. Marijuana has a relaxing effect, not to mention its medicinal benefits.  As for prostitution, it should also be legalized. It is THE oldest profession in the WORLD. You cannot put a restriction on ones body.  The only way to stop it would be to eliminate one of the sexes. Just my guess, but there would probably be a drop in sex crimes and sexually transmitted diseases if prostitution were to become legal.  THE ONLY REASON NEITHER OF THESE THINGS ARE LEGAL, IS BECAUSE OUR GOVERNMENT CANT FIGURE A WAY TO CONTROL OR TAX THEM. (Like cigarettes and alcohol. Which by the way is two very high contributors to our mortality rate here in America.)  Hence the war against them.
1177501
Things you should know... prostitution is illegal.
618267
Legalize drugs for recreational use. Legalize prostitution. Stop the USA from imposing its will onto other nations, unless said nations try to impose their powers onto people not currently under their control. Disallow any corporate or organizations funding of political races. Abolish all copyright and patent law. The judge's ruling should read, "All current patent & copyright holders now need to learn how to share. This world will be a much better place when we have all learned to share, especially knowledge." Dissolve every company or orginization that prey upon other companies or individuals with frivilious lawsuits, and disbar their lawyers.
1010918
Yes this could be refuted by a good attorney but in the meantime back at the ranch someone is sitting in jail waiting for the trial just because sex was involved and that will be the deciding factor in the case as to legal or not legal.  Sex is sex to the law, I don't think prostitution should be illegal because its a woman's prerogative as what she wants to do with her body.  For every law out there there is a way to get around it until it becomes case law which means that someone refuted the previous law and either beat it or didn't beat it and they made a new law because of it.  It would only work until the end of the trial and then they would be re-writing a new law because of it.  Oh well, it is aways worth trying though.
20882
Yes, all drugs should be legal.\n\nMaking drugs legal would mean that they could be better controlled, or maybe even taxed.  The tax could be used to help people get off hard drugs.\n\nIn my opinion, governments should not have control over something an individual does to themselves.
273603
Yes.  And allow me to elucidate.\n\n1)  It's the world's oldest profession for a reason.  Trying to stamp out prostitution is like trying to drain a river with a straw.\n\n2)  It's a consensual act.  The buyer and the seller are both willing participants.  I'm not saying that it's healthy, but those who sell their bodies aren't being stopped anyway.  And healthy profits can fund the therapy needed to get out of that business' mindset... in theory.  Or it can buy a lot of drugs... which is another legalization topic to hold...\n\n3)  Legalization can lead to regulation: required doctor visits for health certification, like the "A, B, C" system in California restaurants.  With legal prostitutes to visit, there may be a decrease in "blind hookups" at your local bar, where a lot of disease gets spread around for free... well, for the price of a few drinks.
101097
There are so many reasons why I think it would be beneficial. I'd also like to say that this issue is VERY different from legalizing drugs. The 'oldest proffession' I believe, will never go away. Unlike drugs, humans are hard wired to copulate, we have no basic need to abuse drugs.\n\n1. You can regulate and tax it. That would in turn would provide for medical checkups and keep std's in check. Revenue would increase for the city/state and less std's will also save the city/state money.\n\n2. It would clean up the streets. Prostitutes would not be seen on the streets nor would pimps. Very stiff penalties for anyone prostituting without a license on the street. Property values would surely benefit.
67803
It should be legalized.\nIt should be controlled as is alcohol(over 21, strict driving laws, etc.).\nIt should be taxed as are alcohol and tobacco which will provide additional revenue to the states.\nThe legalization will allow law enforcement and the courts to concentrate on more dangerous drugs and more serious crimes.  The legalization will also help to alleviate some of the overcrowding in our jails and prisons, an additional savings to the taxpayers.
204244
No.\nBut, they can get the prostitute into a room with them. And then when they begin to start talking about money, that is when they can arrest them.\nIn general, I would immagine that it is seriously frowned upon if they do get sexual services for free from a prostitue.
499321
No it should not be legal. But the way our judicial system is going I am sure it will be soon. They keep lowering the legal sex age in different states. Kinda makes you wonder about our wonderful law makers, and lobbyists.
849881
It's everywhere regardless of whether or not it is legal, like in Nevada. Did you just watch Dr. Keith??? LOL! They had some of the hookers on there from Moonlight Ranch or whatever. Anywhooooo, I think that it is disgusting, but it's not my body so who cares. If they want to do it, let 'em. But, I don't think that it should be legalized it in all states due to public health issues such as spreading STD's, HIV and Hepatitis. Plus, I wouldn't want my daughter's growing up to think that it was fine to do since it was legal...
482408
no i don't think any drugs should be legal at all, look at all the damage it does to people and their families not to mention the money spent on them.  Not even cigarettes should be legal, who wants to throw their life away or give themselves diseases.  Besides drugs only need to be taken once to kill somebody.
116086
Why shouldn't it be legal?  "Selling is legal, having consentual sex is legal.  Why isn't selling consentual sex legal!?  Why is it illegal to sell something that is perfectly legal to give away?"  -  George Carlin\n\nI think this is the best prostitution argument of them all.\n\nThen comes "If you bet a woman $50 she can't give you an orgasm, is that gambling or prostitution?"\n\nSorry, I don't know if it's legal there.