Sunday, July 20, 2008

Measure Regarding Prostitution Qualifies for Ballot

The California ballot will certainly be full this November.

In San Francisco, a measure that looks to prevent prostitutes from facing criminal charges will be on the ballot after getting the necessary support recently. The Erotic Service Providers Union came up with enough signatures to make it on the ballot.

The measure would prohibit authorities from spending financial resources to investigate or prosecute prostitutes for taking part in the world's oldest profession.

A first-time offender program that permits men to escape charges for soliciting a prostitute if they attend a class and pay a fine would also cease under the measure.


Mayor Gavin Newsom claims the measure would impede the city's ability to investigate and prosecute sex-trafficking crimes.

2 comments:

Jeff said...

I could not determine your position on this issue from the post. Do you agree? I think that it would be difficult for me to support such a bill. I'm not clear as to whether or not authorities would be prohibited from investigating pimps. Selling your body is one thing. Selling the bodies of others is quite another, or so I see it. I have a less clear picture of how to handle the johns.

DT said...

hi sjeffh,
even though i tend to be rather conservative, i am more open on this issue. i actually feel, right or wrong, that legalizing prostitution would be a good thing for the most part. i feel it would cut down on violence against women, drug problems and disease issues. as long as everyone going into it realizes and accepts the risks and responsibility. i find it a bit odd that the mayor is up in arms over this, yet is much more liberal on other issues. i would say give it a try and if it doesn't work, then seek tougher laws. i would rather give this a try then keeping it in the dark, hidden world that it is now.