Should it be illegal to buy sex?

[SadisticNature]

If it's possible to tell, then it should be a criminal act to have sex with a woman being held against her will as a sex slave. In fact it is already.

But if it's possible to tell, then the police should move in, and the women released, shouldn't they? It's not for the general public to do police's investigation work for them.

If it isn't possible to tell, then no-one should be incriminated for buying sex innocently if some time later, possibly years later, after the man has married and started a family, it is discovered that the prostitutes were being forced to sell themselves by some trafficker.

Another example of this comes from a case where a man was arrested for having sex with a minor. He met her at a bar (19+ Admission only), the bar served both of them alcohol. She told him she was of age, he had good reason to believe her (her ID passed muster and got her both in the place, and got her drinks), and she looked around 19 also.

After the fact the bar was found to have served alcohol to minors and not taken proper measures to ensure IDs were genuine. They got off with a warning and kept their liquor license.

The man is doing time for statutory rape.

Regarding Brothels:

Why am I responsible for knowing someone's working hours or comings/goings in a business I have no connection to other than as a customer? This isn't the case in any other business. Should we start carting people to jail for wearing or carrying items that are trademark violations (Fake Louis Vutton, etc.)?

I think if the individual comes into the knowledge that something illegal is going on they should be legally responsible at least as far as not participating. I completely agree its not up to the public to do the police's investigation work for them.

[DuncanONeil]

Another example of this comes from a case where a man was arrested for having sex with a minor. He met her at a bar (19+ Admission only), the bar served both of them alcohol. She told him she was of age, he had good reason to believe her (her ID passed muster and got her both in the place, and got her drinks), and she looked around 19 also.

You titled this silly laws! Then why not get real with them?
Kirkland, Illinois, law forbids bees to fly over the village or through any of its streets.

It is against the law for a monster to enter the corporate limits of Urbana, Illinois.

Chicago law prohibits eating in a place that is on fire.
Alaska:

1. You can't look at a moose from an aeroplane.
2. Kangaroos are not allowed in barber shops at any time.
3. Even though it is legal to hunt a bear, it is illegal to wake a bear and take a picture for photo opportunities.
4. It is an offence to push a live moose out of a moving aeroplane.
5. It is State Policy that all emergencies are held to a minimum.

Arkansas:

1. It is illegal to mispronounce Arkansas while in Arkansas

[SadisticNature]

You titled this silly laws! Then why not get real with them?
Kirkland, Illinois, law forbids bees to fly over the village or through any of its streets.

It is against the law for a monster to enter the corporate limits of Urbana, Illinois.

Chicago law prohibits eating in a place that is on fire.
Alaska:

1. You can't look at a moose from an aeroplane.
2. Kangaroos are not allowed in barber shops at any time.
3. Even though it is legal to hunt a bear, it is illegal to wake a bear and take a picture for photo opportunities.
4. It is an offence to push a live moose out of a moving aeroplane.
5. It is State Policy that all emergencies are held to a minimum.

Arkansas:

1. It is illegal to mispronounce Arkansas while in Arkansas

There is a difference between silly laws that are laughable because they are completely unenforcable, or because everyone knows they won't be enforced and silly LAWS that get enforced and everyone questions why.

[DuncanONeil]

There is a difference between silly laws that are laughable because they are completely unenforcable, or because everyone knows they won't be enforced and silly LAWS that get enforced and everyone questions why.

Some time back Chicago passed a law regarding smoking in certain public areas. Not surprising now but then maybe. But the funny thing was that passage of such a law made it clear that the people making these laws do not know what alraedy exists.
Prior to passage of the above mentioned law the City Code carried a law on smoking. I can not remember all of the particulars but it was Ch 100 1/2 (that is not a mistake, but the actual reference). The part I needed was related to smoking in schools. Smoking in schools was prohibited, except in administration offices on the first floor. For the school I was attending this meant that the head of the college could not smoke in his office as it was on the second floor.
The law was in place and enforceable but there was no penalty attached!

It does appear that the code has suffered some changes, though.