New Laws Needed

Our society doesn't think of prostitution as slavery. It is perceived as a desperate lifestyle chosen by "those people" in "that other part of town". But it is time to understand the truth.

Before the sexual exploitation of children can be eradicated in our city, the provision and demand of contractual sex must be addressed. By creating and enforcing harsher penalties on the pimps and johns (those that hire prostitutes) the risk involved in engaging in these acts, specifically with under aged girls, becomes an even greater deterrent. In our city, the punishments for johns in particular are in desperate need of revision. Under the current law a john may form a complete and valid defense for soliciting sex acts with a minor (aged 15, 16 or 17) simply by claiming he did not know the individual's age. By law this defense is no longer valid for pimps. However, until this unfortunate loophole is no longer an option for johns, sexual abusers will continue to rape our children. This must be stopped."

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Legislation Status:

Unfortunately the efforts to pass the "John Bill" in 2009 fell victim to an abbreviated legislative session, due to the state budget short fall. We eagerly anticipate the return of legislative session in January 2010, and look to build off the momentum gained by the positive advances this past year.