Should Prostitution be legalized?

Of course prostitution should be legalized! The government should not be allowed to try to control what we do with our bodies...period. But they do try. Why?

Mainly, prostitution is illegal because the conservatives and the religious in our country want to preserve marriage. Prostitution, in their opinion, is immoral and would have the potential to destroy marriages or make marriage unnecessary (because sex outside of marriage isn't supposed to exist for Christians. With that philosophy, to endorse sex outside of marriage by making it legal would obliterate the necessity for marriage and, for those already in a marriage, it would condone adultery.)

Until we have more open-minded, less religiously fanatical representatives in our government, prostitution will never be legalized. Use your votes wisely, and encourage everyone you know to do the same. Perhaps, in time...

Counterarguments:

Oh, and don't go buying into that "disease" argument. If the government thought legalizing sex for money would make STDs more of an epidemic, we wouldn't have porn stars.

Someone said that, statistically, where one finds prostitution, there's also drugs and guns. I highly doubt the statistics would remain the same if prostitution was legalized, regulated, and taxed. If a bordello would go legal, I doubt they'd jeopardize the opportunity by allowing illegal drug use on the premises, and they certainly wouldn't allow guns unless they were only on the security guards present. So, I guess I didn't understand the relevance of that argument...

It's that way in Nevada right now, if it was such a cost effective enterprise there wouldn't be so many of them closing. No matter how you want to maintain a bordello there is people skimming off the money, drug use, the women have nothing when they get too old except the kindess of strangers, besides being looked upon as an object not a human being, and it does nothing to enhance the family.

I personally don't think that prostitution should be legalized. This is just giving men and women themselves disrespect physically and mentally. Why would they give their body out to people they don't even know besides they get the satisfaction of making money and getting some 'love,' hm?

Do they even realize the fact that they're getting themselves in risky business? I don't know, but this is just my opinion. =P

Of course. George Carlin said it best.. "why is it illegal to sell something that's perfectly legal to give away?"

I'll never understand why people have a problem with the personal freedom, personal responsibility thing. If a guy sticks his wicket in a diseased prostitute and dies as a result, what's the problem if he doesn't hurt anybody else?

Absolutely not! This is a totally degrading, immoral, and unhealthy job. I can't judge people who use it to get out of poverty, but many young girls (ages 12-18) are sold into it. Do you have any idea how damaging this is? Many have to recover in counseling for many years later but the emotional scars and damage to their body will last forever.

In short, No. Prostitution should not be legalized.

Assuming these things, yes. It would be beneficial to everyone, as the prostitute could easily get medical care, and it could be required the get tested monthly - they could have a card they had to carry. It would be cleaner, and it would be safer - they would no longer need to hang out on dark streets... Nevada has it figured out pretty good on the "ranches" they offer.

Absolutely! It's not for me, but it's your body and if that's how you make your living, there is no reason why you should be criminalised for doing so.

Perhaps the working girls would get healthcare and protection and stay away from drugs a bit?

Locking them up will never help them - and they may or may not want help!

Statistically wherever you find prostitution you also find drugs, crime and guns.

Because most prostitutes are addicted to illegal drugs and thats how they support their drug habit. So its connected to something else bad.

In Utah it has always been legal.

i personally think it's stupid for it to be illegal...we are able to profit from any god given talent...why not sex...if there is a market...why not...it's their bodies...the only problem i have is the pimp thing...i would prefer that people could put themselves out there without being owned...