I too worry that this will be the impetus to criminalize buying of sexual services. This, from a civil libertarian point of view is ridiculous in my view, the govt has no right to dictate under which circumstances and with whom someone has sex, unless there is violence coercion, trafficking etc. We already have laws to deal with this.
Nonetheless I will not be surprised if this govt goes this way. Keep in mind the SCC decision was based on the fact that since prostitution is a LEGAL activity, that the current laws surrounding it were unconstitutional, because they marginalized and put at risk those who work in this LEGAL industry. Not, as ms Bedford claims, that we have the right to do what we want with whom we want in our private bedroom, I agree with her, but the courts have not used this as a basis for striking down the law.
It will be interesting, but I would not be surprised to see buying criminalized and I would doubt there will be many politicians arguing the civil libertarian point of view. Keeping mind the right doesn't want to alienate the bible thumpers and the left doesn't want to alienate the feminists who ardently belive that all prostitution = exploitation, no matter what the circumstances. I bet the Feds already have a bill ready to go.
Unless there is a massive push to inform the public about the really above board agencies / parlours who look after their escorts /mps, the smart well adjusted independent women who have made a conscious, non coercive choice to enter and profit from the business, and yes the clients, who are not knuckle dragging predators/ deviant monsters, rather nice average dudes who enjoy strings free consensual sex in the context of a mutually beneficial relationship. The problem is, because of the stigma, few of these people will stand up to be heard, and the few that are will be shouted down from all sides, moralist and feminist abolishionists alike. Have fun till then.
