Listener letter | SPD is right to bust ‘Johns’ in Seattle
Jul 15, 2016, 3:55 PM | Updated: 3:56 pm
A KIRO Radio listener wrote in to compliment Seattle police on a job well done of arresting more than 200 men soliciting prostitution. (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
After the story of Seattle police arresting 204 men during a 10-day prostitution sting broke, KIRO Radio’s Don O’Neill and Tom Tangney said it was a waste of the department’s time and money.
O’Neill defended his position by pointing out that the police department is understaffed and is dealing with bigger issues, such as homelessness and a heroin epidemic. He argued that it would be different if police went after sex-traffickers, but the sting is really just an attack on “lonely Seattle residents.”
But at least one of their listeners disagrees with that.
Prostitution is far from a victimless crime, decriminalization does not work, which is why Sweden implemented the Nordic Model focusing on demand and providing services to women. You cannot make prostitution safe.
If you think you can draw a simple line around minors and consent, you are uninformed.
Even if consensual prostitution existed for sellers, decriminalization would only increase trafficking and disproportionately affect the poor and women of color who are most vulnerable, because of increased demand.
SPD is doing the right thing.
— Debra in Seattle
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Tune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 3pm for John Curley and Shari Elliker.
