California gets one right

It isn't often that I agree with anything politically that comes out of California, but they got this one right.

From the Washington Examiner:

Beginning on Jan. 1, prostitution by minors will be legal in California. Yes, you read that right.

SB 1322 bars law enforcement from arresting sex workers who are under the age of 18 for soliciting or engaging in prostitution, or loitering with the intent to do so. So teenage girls (and boys) in California will soon be free to have sex in exchange for money without fear of arrest or prosecution.

This terribly destructive legislation was written and passed by the progressive Democrats who control California's state government with a two-thirds "supermajority." To their credit, they are sincere in their belief that decriminalizing underage prostitution is good public policy that will help victims of sex trafficking. Unfortunately, the reality is that the legalization of underage prostitution suffers from the fatal defect endemic to progressive-left policymaking: it ignores experience, common sense and most of all human nature — especially its darker side.

The unintended but predictable consequence of how the real villains — pimps and other traffickers in human misery — will respond to this new law isn't difficult to foresee. Pimping and pandering will still be against the law whether it involves running adult women or young girls. But legalizing child prostitution will only incentivize the increased exploitation of underage girls. 

If pimping and pandering is still against the law, how does freeing the victimized prostitute of legal consequences "incentivize" pimping and pandering? The truth is holding victims legally accountable for behavior they are being forced to perform is horrendous.

On top of this, prostitution is a victimless activity when performed by consenting adults. But even if we say minor age prostitutes ARE the victims, do we really want to bring down the full lethal force of law on minors for such activity? Making it a crime is the wrong disincentive.

There are many things we don't want kids to do. But making those activities a crime only forces the legal system to treat them the same as murderers, thieves, and rapists. Is this what you want for young victims?