Tux of Borg Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/pimps09.html March 9, 2005 BY CHRISTOPHER WILLS ASSOCIATED PRESS SPRINGFIELD -- Olivia Howard says her 19 years as a prostitute were a blur of violence. She had a gun pointed at her head, was thrown out of cars and endured beatings and rapes. Now she and other advocates want a law that would let prostitutes sue the pimps and brothels that profit from their suffering. They say it would hold people accountable for coercing women-- and often girls-- into prostitution. An Illinois House committee approved the idea unanimously Wednesday, sending it to the House floor. The legislation would give prostitutes up to 10 years to seek damages from those who profited from their prostitution or maintained them in the business. That means the women could be compensated for any physical or mental abuse they suffered. Supporters say Florida, Hawaii and Minnesota have similar laws, although few lawsuits have been filed. Howard, now a drug abuse counselor in Aurora, told the committee that most prostitutes suffer abuse and have little hope of escaping the pimps who control them. "If I called the police because I was raped, either by a trick or a pimp, I was told it comes with the territory," Howard said. "People say prostitution is the oldest profession. I think it's the most misunderstood. The violence and exploitation of women and girls has to stop." It might be possible for prostitutes to sue right now, say the legislation's supporters. But without legal precedents or a specific law to support the suit, they would have little chance of succeeding. Lyn Schollett, counsel to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, says it's unlikely that active prostitutes would take advantage of the ability to sue but former prostitutes trying to rebuild their lives might. Noting that pimps are rarely prosecuted, Schollett said lawsuits would be another way to hold them accountable for their role in prostitution, which is illegal in Illinois. Nearly 5,200 people were arrested for prostitution or pandering in Chicago in 2003, but there were only 31 pimping or pandering arrests, according to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, one of the groups supporting the lawsuit legislation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 what next ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarthur31 Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 Ummm, doesn't this pretty much legalize this profession? What's next, calling in dogs to sit on juries? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Chief Navy Pride Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 If I'm not mistaken they have a choice to be a hooker or not to be. All hookers know that gettin your ass kicked every now and again is part of the job description. The I dont have any other option S&it has to go. Get a real job and save a couple black eyes or keep serving the local communities and take what you get. Just my 2 cents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady Renko Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 Drug addicts suing drug dealers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justnzane Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 Drug addicts suing drug dealers... 270277[/snapback] ...kinda sounds like a chappelle skit including Tyrone Biggums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikie2times Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 ...kinda sounds like a chappelle skit including Tyrone Biggums 270412[/snapback] You sold our house Tyrone? What did you do with the money? I threw 300,000$ crack party Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady Renko Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 ...kinda sounds like a chappelle skit including Tyrone Biggums 270412[/snapback] Was that a Chappelle skit or are you saying it should be? I thought I had seen all of the episodes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justnzane Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 i am saying it should be... "Red Balls, They give you Wings!!!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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