mranderson thinks we should legalize prostitution in the state of Oklahoma. What do you think?

I cannot think of a reason not to legalize it; I guess there are those who think it is immoral, but what other activities do we condone that are immoral?

Not saying that just because we condone one thing that is immoral, we should indulge in all, but in the case of prostitution, why not legalize it.

If it is not legalized, don't you think it is high time they start enforcing the adultery laws (meaning the laws that make it a crime for anyone who is not married to the other person to have sexual relations with that person---yeah! you singles going out and bringing him or her home for some horizontal recreation without benefit of marriage) that are on the cities' books across the state---I am not sure whether the state statutes make these activities a crime or not.

Reason one. Legal or not, people are going to pay for sex. We might as well get the cops to fight real crimes.

Reason two. By leagalizing it, it makes the profession as healthy as possible by regulating it by Nevada regulations.

Reason three. Tax revenue. Working girls and other people in the profession pay no taxes. If they were legal, they would pay income tax, thus contributing to the welfare of the state.

I bet if you researched the facts, you would find there are as many married men buying the services of a working girl as there are married men having affiars with non charging women (percentage wise).

Plus, the only legalized places to conduct business would be by brothal (in call) and outcall services. Street walking as we know it would still be illegal.

And before you say it. Most women who are working girls do it because they want to do it. They enjoy their profession. Very few were molested and less than 1/10 of one percent are druggies. If they get caught doing drugs, their permits are suspeneded or revoked. They ARE revoked if they are found to have HIV. STD's are all but unheard of in the legal sex industry.

What about censorship of the advertisement? I wouldn't want to be driving down 1-40 with my family and my son read a billboard with a woman in lingerie that said " I've got what you want for the right price."

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When it rains it pours... but when the blessings come they overflow!

Hmmmm.....censorship. Magic word, usually used in the context of morality. There are Victoria's Secret ads...., etc. I would be more in support of a parent explaining to their child that "This is something you'll learn about when you're older, but Mommy and Daddy don't agree with it."

Do they still have those "Night Trips" billboards up?

And

Mr. Anderson, if you were answering me, please note the "not" in my first statement.

Reason 1? Using that as fuel for your fire, we might as well make every crime allowable. People do it anyways.

Wy don't we legalize drugs as well, and tax them? Shoot, let's legalize every crime. City can make tax money off organized murder.

You are a sick man. You want to legalize prostitution?

I assume that you are not married, or have a girlfriend. If you do, does she know how you feel about prostitution?

Randy,

Your wife doesn’t seem to be opposed to prostitution.

That's a seperate issue. We're talking about prostitution, not promotion of it. I'm sure that Las Vegas has regulations for such things.

It's a valid point that this is going to happen whether or not it is allowed. Like the tattoo industry, if it is regulated sex workers will have far safer work environments and the spread of STD's will be stimied due to regulation.

As to the irrelevant objection, there are things that can be done to keep certain ads from appearing. For example, certain kinds of commercials are not able to run until after a certain hour. Tobbacco commercials aren't allowed anymore, etc. Also, (equally irrelevant) on our "new and improved" I-40, there will be no billboards

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Where are the facts to back that one up? I think we can let Randy answer for his wife on that one.

I feel just fine. The woman in my life feels the same way I do about the subject. As do a large number of people. They are just affraid to say it in public. And yes. I want the profession legal. No matter what, it will be done and by legalization, it can be regulated in a healthy manner. I suggest researching the facts by going into various Nevada websites on the subject.

How would the woman in your life feel if you were participating in it?

I just don't see what the benefit would be of legalizing prostitution. You legalize it, more redlight districts pop up across the city, and that lowers quality of life in our city in those areas.

Patrick -- as to the "woman in your life" comment. That's inappropriate. You're suggesting that anderson would actually patronize a hooker -- or at least you seem to be doing so. I think what he (and I) are arguing for is for choice. If I wanted to go see a hooker, (which I don't and never will), that should be my right. My decision hurts no one and in fact, it helps a woman who might not be able to make a living otherwise, both people in the transaction get exactly what they want and everyone's happy.

Otherwise, you are turning these women over into a situation where no one screens them for STD's, they are controlled essentially by thugs, they get involved in drugs and other such things, they're involved in other crime, etc.

As far as red light districts go and their "popping up everywhere." That's an absurd notion. First of all, there are zoning laws. Secondly, brothels and other sex-related businesses could revitalize parts of the city that have fallen into financial ruin.

I think there are bad and good things here, but the good outweigh the bad.

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The bad definitly over powers the good that will be done if this was ever to become legal. Paying for sex is immoral and pathetic, IMO!

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When it rains it pours... but when the blessings come they overflow!

So morality is the only thing you can put in the 'bad' comment? Sounds like a personal objection. When considering issues of policy, we must learn to think outside ourselves. Not everyone holds the same values that we do. I personally find the practice to be repugnant. On the other hand, I value the right of someone to engage in whatever behavior they want to so long as no others are harmed.

What tips the scales is that there is less of a potential for harm for women who will do this anyway were this legal and regulated than harm that will befall them should the status quo be held.

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It's a friendlier OKCTalk!

My apologies for the wording of the question to mranderson. I was just wanting to ask what the woman in his life would think about it, because that's how other spouses of these men feel that participate in the behavior.

I think if prostitution becomes legal and men no longer have to worry about their faces showing up on JohnTV it will only encourage more men to take part in the act, and this in effect will destroy marriages and families. Currently at least married men have the law working agains them, and a greater chance of being "found out." Their wives at least deserve to know what's going on.

I put prostitution right in there with cock fighting. I tihnk it's pretty redneck, and if we approve it, we only look like a backwords state.

The moral issue of prostitution isn't the only negative against it. Just because legalizing it can control the health aspects of it doesn't make it right. What about do the opposite and come down alot harder on offenders and eliminate as much as we can. Its being lazy in my opinion to give in and legalize prostitution so it can be safe and the prostitutes"will have to pay taxes.

It can and will break up relationships and marriages if it was readily available and legal. When something is made legal alot of people in society think that means it is okay to engage in the activity because the state delcares it legal. I don't see how legalizing prostitution will really help the spread of infectious diseases. Just because "Sally" had a blood test on Monday and was clean of diseases doesn't mean on Wed. she has been exposed to HIV. If anything diseases in our community will spread more quickly. Married people will bring more diseases home if this is legalized. There are alot of cheaters everywhere.. and having sex readily available and legal will break up alot of families.

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When it rains it pours... but when the blessings come they overflow!

I agree completely.

Curious here if any of you who are adamantly opposed to legalizing this ever engaged in pre-marital sex. You know to whom I am speaking to.

Never engaged in pre-marital sex, but what does that have to do with prostitution?

For some odd reason, Patrick, I believe that you did not ever have sex outside marriage, and I believe that you are serious in your Q about what it has to do with prostitution.

Am I amongst saints? Or are some of you real? LOL