The problem is we're comparing a hypothetical situation to a real, different situation in a different country with different laws. In most places in the US, there is no such thing as consensual prostitution. However, if buying sex is illegal and selling women for sex is illegal but being a prostitute is not illegal, then we're effectively saying the woman is the victim of the transaction. There is no way it could be consensual if it's illegal on one side but not the other. The reason it would be legal to sell yourself for sex but not legal to purchase is because the women were often being coerced or otherwise forced into prostitution. These laws automatically assume the woman is the victim and automatically assume the sex is non-consensual even if both parties agree to it. Just like how a minor cannot consent even if they say yes, with these kinds of laws a prostitute cannot consent even if they say yes.
If both buying and selling sex are legal, then it's a different story. But if buying is illegal but selling is legal, the prostitute is the victim. And if a drug dealer is offering something an addict cannot prevent themselves from buying due to their mental illness, the dealer is the criminal and the buyer is the victim.
Bear in mind, the point of not charging the prostitute with a crime is because they don't want to arrest someone who was forced into an illegal transaction, they want to arrest the people who are forcing others to commit crimes. If a carjacker puts a gun to your head and tells you to run a red light, you won't get a ticket. And if you're addicted to heroin, you don't really have a choice if you want to buy heroin or not. But the person who is providing you with that heroin doesn't have to sell it to you. That's why they're the criminal.
>In most places in the US, there is no such thing as consensual prostitution.
I have long since rejected the notion of the law having any say in what is or isn't consensual. If the law says that pi is 3 or that climate change isn't happening, would we give any weight to it? No, and not because the law happens to be wrong in this case, but because any educated person would reject what the law has to say concerning the reality of the situation. (Not to say the law can be ignored if one is looking to stay out of jail, but thankfully online arguments about reality aren't likely to get one jailed.)
>But if buying is illegal but selling is legal, the prostitute is the victim.
You define the victim based on what the law says? Once again, I reject the notion that what the law says has any bearing on reality.
>Bear in mind, the point of not charging the prostitute with a crime is because they don't want to arrest someone who was forced into an illegal transaction, they want to arrest the people who are forcing others to commit crimes.
If every prostitute can be considered forced, then so can every john. A john would only be seeing prostitute because a more socially acceptable hookup is not available, and in such they are forced into it in much the same way that a prostitute is forced into it because a more socially acceptable job is not available (BTW, I'm being sarcastic because I reject that whole argument).
>But the person who is providing you with that heroin doesn't have to sell it to you.
When you are in a gang and are told to go seel some crack, you don't tell the leader no if you favor your health and wellbeing.
If both buying and selling sex are legal, then it's a different story. But if buying is illegal but selling is legal, the prostitute is the victim. And if a drug dealer is offering something an addict cannot prevent themselves from buying due to their mental illness, the dealer is the criminal and the buyer is the victim.
Bear in mind, the point of not charging the prostitute with a crime is because they don't want to arrest someone who was forced into an illegal transaction, they want to arrest the people who are forcing others to commit crimes. If a carjacker puts a gun to your head and tells you to run a red light, you won't get a ticket. And if you're addicted to heroin, you don't really have a choice if you want to buy heroin or not. But the person who is providing you with that heroin doesn't have to sell it to you. That's why they're the criminal.