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But sort of... He put in laws that would "restrict the sale of sex", such as making laws that have caused Craigslist and BackPage to shut down (for CL, to shut down that part of the site). In all honesty, I agree that is progress, and I applaud it. I'm not a fan of this POTUS, but this was a good move, and I really don't have anything bad to say about it.
But it would be naive to think that people won't be able to buy sex, just because the most popular way to market it has been restricted. If you follow the analogy, and then apply the logic of the pro-gun lobby, then they should not make these new laws, because it won't stop the problem.
Like I said, I agree with the law. I don't think it will solve the problem, but I certainly think it will make it harder (for now) on the illegal trade.
The analogy is that I also think that reasonable gun laws would make it harder. To have uniform gun laws across the country would reduce the benefit for (currently illegal) inter-state gun trade. To close loop-holes would make it harder. To increase background checks would HELP keep guns out of the hands of the mentally unstable. And the list goes on.
My real point is that this was probably a good thing. I wish his supporters would be consistent in their application of laws that restrict harmful activity when it relates to gun laws.
BP was seized prior to the signing of FOSTA. Feds had more than enough to seize and prosecute the owners of BP many months ago. BP was an excuse. Timing is suspect.
"Federal Backpage Indictment Shows SESTA Unnecessary, Contains Zero Sex Trafficking Charges"
Also, CL and BP is all people are discussing. FOSTA has a much larger ramifications than intended. Any online service including social media (facebook, twitter, snapchat, etc), forum (City data forum), discussion group (reddit), messaging service, online dating sites (POF, match.com), ads service, that derives content from users can be misused for illegal (in this case prostitution) purposes. By holding them liable, many sites even legitimate ones have been directly impacted. Any expert on internet/information technology would have been able to predict this.... it is the very premise of section 230.
Even things such as outlook, xbox, etc... is impacted
There is also a national Spa and Massage review site that went down. Yes... there was some sex work occuring in those establishments but there were also a lot of legitimate places as well. When the cost of filtering content and risk outweigh the benefit (derived from ads and online traffic), the site will simply be taken off line.
There was also a discussion forum regarding legitimate concerns around sex and relationships that also went down.
the list is getting longer. This is a freedom of speech issue...
The community of sex workers are people... including parents and spouses. They want to eliminate child prositution and trafficking just as much (probably more so) than the general public. It is bad for everyone.... sex workers included. I would support any legislature that would help but not at the expense of other people's freedoms.... and certainly has to be more effective and well thought out than FOSTA.
Tax evasion would be rampant if prostitution was legalized. They wouldn't report every encounter and there would be no way for the IRS to know.
I'm not convinced of this. There are plenty of individuals living off cash business.... sex work is no different.
I'm not saying no one would evade their tax obligations... just saying that it would be no different than other laborers already operating on a cash basis.
Also,
Recall Prohibition. Al Capone was a product of Prohibition era... when alcohol was made illegal. He was prosecuted for tax evasion.
The whole tax evasion as a crime isn't contingent on legal sources of income... criminal income can also be prosecuted. So it is irrelevant.
He may have been a regular customer of prostitutes.. sure. But that doesn't mean those prostitutes were trafficked.
People need to understand that two consenting adults in engaging in prostitution is a totally unrelated to sex trafficked individuals. Until that understanding is firm, it will be difficult to address trafficking adequately.
He may have been a regular customer of prostitutes.. sure. But that doesn't mean those prostitutes were trafficked.
People need to understand that two consenting adults in engaging in prostitution is a totally unrelated to sex trafficked individuals. Until that understanding is firm, it will be difficult to address trafficking adequately.
OK ... I stand corrected on terminology ... sorta of.
Trafficking is to deal or trade in something illegal ... which prostitution is .... in most places.
If he really cared about the plight of human trafficking victims, he'd legalize safe and consensual prostitution, which would achieve the following:
1) Real victims could go to the authorities without worrying about being processed like criminals
2) The industry could be regulated, meaning a much lower chance of anyone underage or unwilling being involved.
3) Sex workers won't be publicly stigmatized via arrest records. This allows them to transition into other professions rather than being made unemployable and having sex work forever being their only option.
How would any of what you've suggested effect underage children and or those that have been kidnapped and held against their will ? You really think regulation is going to help this ? Many of these kids are being shipped abroad, which has nothing to do with prostitution here in our country.
That being said, I think prostitution and trafficking are different issues that sometimes overlap. I don't have a problem with an adult that makes the decision to escort, I have a problem with someone being forced into it.
Last edited by scarabchuck; 04-13-2018 at 08:26 AM..
Just do a little research, and you will see the ESCORTS are flipping out over this. You will see who the real 'victim' is by their actions. The idea that the majority are underaged, unwilling girls is just not reality.
This will make things much more dangerous for them for those that can't adjust from making $200 an hour to minimum wage.
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