FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 25, 2019
Contact: Marcos Miralles,
Chairman, Libertarian Party of Florida
MIAMI – It is no joking matter: every day, thousands of consenting adults are charged with the crime of engaging in “sexual acts” with other consenting adults.
Why? Because two adults engaged in an activity deemed immoral by lawmakers. No one is harmed; yet still a “vice” by those who believe their choices are better than our own. Subsequently, the criminal prosecution system drains the bank accounts of ruined lives.
And law enforcement officials just love busting people engaged in “vice,” both vendor and client. They coordinate “stings” with each other. They conduct covert surveillance to observe adults engaging in sex acts. They arrest bunches of people and hold press conferences. They appear indignant and self-satisfied, satisfied that they were able to watch two consenting adults have sex. And arrest ‘em for doing so.
Why? Because two adults engaged in consensual activity that entailed the transfer of funds. If no funds were transferred, what these folks choose to do would be perfectly “legal.”
Last week, a notable sports figure fell victim to one of these stings in Jupiter, Fla. Jokes flew, but what is no joking matter is innocent people had their lives turned upside down. While there were allegations of something called “sex trafficking,” no one was arrested for kidnapping or slavery – two acts commonly associated with the trafficking of humans. No arrests.
So why then? Why do we continue to criminalize consensual conduct? It’s time to ask ourselves that question and answer it: let’s end all criminalization of consensual sexual acts, whether or not commerce is involved.
– By J. Mark Barfield, Staff Writer
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