The Washington Legislature is considering a bill to outlaw overseas sex tours
Arranging such tours would be a Class C felony, intended to crack down on sex tours to such places as Thailand. Violators would face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.Excuse me, but wouldn't criminalizing the sale of such tours reduce the supply without affecting the demand?Sen. Karen Fraser, the main sponsor of the bill, said she wants to help reduce the demand for such trips.
Sen. Fraser's biography indicates that she "Teaches master's level class in public administration at The Evergreen State College"
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at January 26, 2006 11:57 AM | Email ThisI know these folks in the legislature mean well, most of the time, but the state can be everyone's overseer. Passing this bill is an exercise in futility. That DOES NOT mean, however, that I support kiddie porn in foreign lands1 It just means this kind of legislation will be ineffective.
Posted by: Libertarian on January 26, 2006 12:32 PMThese 'tourists' spend millions in Thailand. I detest the prostitution in Thailand but until the underlying extreme poverty is eliminated, the poor will continue to sell their children into slavery.
We have too many legislators in Olympia and in Washington State who are passing bills just to make a name for themselves, instead of dealing with the problems that the people of this state are dealing with in their daily lives.
Men going to Thailand for sex doesn't affect a Washington residents.
Posted by: sgmmac on January 26, 2006 01:11 PMWe have too many crimes committed in the US to start going to foreign countries to find criminals.
"GABBY JOHNSON'S RIGHT...NOW HOW CAN YOU ARGUE WITH FRONTIER JIBBERISH LIKE THAT!!!"..."RAREBIT"
In any event, I don't think the bill would reduce the supply one iota. If the tourist package can't be legally sold from a physical address in Washington, it can easily be sold over the internet from an address outside the United States -- and even sold from foreign locations by people who aren't citizens or residents of the United States.
Demand reduction is probably the best we can do. And it is probably better handled by federal laws, such as the one that prosecuted the fellow who was having sex with young boys in Thailand. Even if underage sex is not illegal in a foreign country (many countries have age of consent at 14 or even 12) or is not seriously prosecuted abroad, it is illegal for a U.S. citizen under federal law to travel to a foreign country for the purpose of having sex with a child under 16 years of age.
State laws on this subject might not even be constitutional. The Ninth Circuit upheld the conviction of the fellow doing things in Cambodia since the federal government can regulate commerce with foreign countries. I don't think the states have this power constitutionally to deal with something that happens in a foreign country (i.e. the underage sex wouldn't be happening in this state). They should instead push for stronger federal laws which can send the promoters of underage sex to a federal prison -- this MIGHT be able to cover foreigners who accept money from U.S. residents for this purpose.
If U.S. citizens want to go to foreign countries and have underage sex without being prosecuted, then I have a modest suggestion for these perverts: RENOUNCE YOUR U.S. CITIZENSHIP, DON'T COME BACK HERE, AND KEEP YOUR PERVERTED SOUL OFF OUR SOIL FOREVER!!!
Posted by: Richard Pope on January 26, 2006 01:50 PM
Actually you are the itiot, you got it wrong twice dumbass. Not only did Senator Fraser say that it WILL reduce DEMAND, but in reality it will reduce SUPPLY, because they are only making it illegal to ORGANIZE the trips, it is already illegal to be caught going on them.
I think our zany Democrats are demonstrating the true meaning of "liberalism". Do as I say; not as I do. It is a shame that they are in power. Isn't the impact of a few hundred votes amazing?
Posted by: snuffy on January 27, 2006 08:33 AMEvergreen College is a pimple on Washington’s hairy butt, which as we all know is called Olympia.
Reducing the demand for the trips would be accomplished if there were thousands of trips. Outlawing the trips will increase demand for the trips. Locking up all of the pedophiles and NAMBLA lovers will reduce the demand for such trips.
If you are trying to eliminate child slavery, you have to reduce the supply of children. The majority of the children are SOLD by their families into slavery. Decreasing the demand for sex slaves isn't going to change that. It will make them cheaper to get. When the parents don't get enough money from selling one kid, they'll sell two! When the parents lose their 2 dollar a day job at the hotel because tourism drops, they might sell a kid. The other alternative for these parents is to simply kill the babies when they are born. It happens all over the third world on a daily basis.
I have been to Thailand and I have seen the total misery and poverty that these people live in. Before Sen Fraser tries to fix Thailand's problems maybe she should take her tired butt over there.
This bill is a total and complete waste of time and I am sick of our legislators scouring the country looking for laws that they can pass onto us Washingtonians and that they can get some headlines with.
Foie Gras?
Oh, and it's not illegal to go on a 'sex' trip. I think Americans are still free to travel where they want to. It is illegal to purchase sex from a minor overseas.........
Posted by: sgmmac on January 28, 2006 08:58 AM