What Drives Most Prostitution is Men.

[indivisibleman]

139. I pretty much agree with you

I grew up in a society where it was illegal and think a healthy society should have laws against it. How the enforcement of those laws should be applied and what they should be is open for debate. I believe legalizing prostitution will only increase it's use and studies bear out that this is the case.
I find it interesting that some people believe that if you are against prostitution in general you are a prude but being against underage prostitution isn't being a prude. This is such a double standard.
Sure there will always be prostitution and an underbelly of society but good laws against such activities would hold it at bay and provide a more stable society for most people.
The penalty should be directed primarily on those who pay for these services. They should have their name listed on a sex offender registry just as anyone else would who was arrested for sex with minors or use and distribution of child pornography. Though I do think the registry should make the distinction as to what behavior they were being charged for.
I personally know of two people who are on the sexual offender's list. One made sexual advances toward an underage relative when they were 18 and the other had consensual sex with a 17 year old when he was 20. The sex registry makes little distinction as to what crime these men committed but will have this registry follow them all their lives. How much more should a user of prostitutes be on such a list whom in my mind poses a greater threat to society. Especially if they are using underage prostitutes.
What is the average age of most prostitutes? As I understand it most of them are pretty young. The average age of death is 34 and the homicide rate is 51 time higher than that of the next most dangerous occupation. Just from a health perspective on the issue it should be strongly discouraged and kept illegal.
If this makes me a prude then so be it. I would rather live in a society with some regulation of behavior than in a society without any.
I remain open to listening to other arguments in the interest of finding what is the best approach toward these issues that produce the best outcomes for society.