Online Poll: Should Prostitution Be Legal In Montana?
It's been called "the oldest profession in the world" and it's certainly no stranger to Montana.
A recent prostitution sting went down in the Bozeman area, with 18 different people being arrested after two Bozeman police officers posed as prostitutes, including a couple of people with high-profile positions in the community. Recent state legislation makes the act of soliciting a felony in Montana.
Back in the day, many Montana towns had a Red Light District. It's rumored that back in the late 1800s that the most popular profession for women in our state's capitol was prostitution. Of course, the biggest population of prostitutes could be found in Butte. In fact, according to a recent Butte History Tour I was on, there were well over 2000 "working girls" back in the early 20th century, with 3 shifts daily.
Long considered taboo, prostitution can have very close ties to the trafficking of not only minors but adults being forced against their will. Not to mention that illegal drugs have long been associated with the act. This, of course, is unacceptable and I believe that the vast majority of us would agree that anyone involved in any type of trafficking should face the toughest of penalties.
But what about two consenting adults? If two adults over the age of 18 decide that they would like to have an arrangement that results in consensual sex for money, should that be illegal? For many, who would like to see a more progressive view on sex and the Government's role in it, their opinion will most definitely differ from those who have a more traditional viewpoint.
I'm not here to debate for either side and am completely leaving my personal opinion out of this, but I did find it interesting that with the recent arrests in the Bozeman area, many voiced their opinions saying that what happens between two consenting adults is no one else's business.
Currently, the only state where prostitution is legal is Nevada, and it's only allowed in certain counties of the state. However, in many countries, especially in Europe there is at least limited legality. Some countries like Germany, Hungry, and the Netherlands not only allow prostitution but it's regulated and taxed and are known for their famous districts.
What do you think? Should prostitution be legal in Montana? Make sure to vote in our poll below.