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Oklahoma Video Vigilante Uses Drone To Wage War Against Prostitutes and Johns (bbc.com)
HughPickens.com writes: Chris Baraniuk writes at BBC that Brian Bates, known in Oklahoma as the "Video Vigilante," is taking credit for Amanda Zolicoffer's conviction on a lewdness charge after being caught on Bates' drone mounted camera in a sex act in a parked vehicle last year. Zolicoffer was sentenced to a year in state prison for the misdemeanor while the case against her alleged client, who was released following arrest in December, is still pending. "I'm sort of known in the Oklahoma City area," says Bates . "For the last 20 years I've used a video camera to document street-level and forced prostitution, and human trafficking." Bates runs a website where he publishes videos of alleged sex workers and their clients. "I am openly referred to as a video vigilante, I don't really shy away from that," says Bates adding that the two individuals were inside a vehicle and the incident occurred away from other members of the public. The drone dropped to within a few feet of the vehicle where it filmed a 75 year old in the front seat of the white pickup truck. The duo separated after Zolicoffer, who was identified by her tattoo saying "Baby Gangster," saw the drone hovering overhead.
... to force your morality unto everyone else. Of course he's proud of his "successes."
used a video camera to document street-level and forced prostitution, and human trafficking.
One of these is not like the others.
I doubt he caught a lot of human trafficking or forced prostitution on camera. The article certainly doesn't mention any.
Most prostitutes these days are virtually, or literally, slaves. They are often kidnapped or trafficked into the US. They are then beaten into submission by their pimps until they no longer resist, and then sold to men on the streets.
You can provide some references beyond hysterical news stories? My guess that there is some of this, but far more is drug addiction related. As well, if you read Dan Savage, you probably know that there are willing "sex workers" as well.
If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
And attention seeking self righteous moralizers trying to put people in jail solves what, exactly?
Let's assume for a minute that everyone who works as a prostitute does so unwillingly (which is bullshit). The people committing the crimes of slavery, violence, etc. are not the ones caught up in this vigilante's stupid campaign.
Most prostitutes these days are virtually, or literally, slaves. They are often kidnapped or trafficked into the US. They are then beaten into submission by their pimps until they no longer resist, and then sold to men on the streets. Regardless of your views on the morality of prostitution, I would hope we can agree that sex-slavery is evil.
I find real sex slavery to be as morally objectionable as other kinds of real slavery. That's why I don't like the laws against prostitution or the wretched pricks like Brian Bates that help to enforce them. Note that there are basically no slaves in the sex industry of The Netherlands, even if you throw in bullshit qualifiers like "virtually".
Tony, that's just not true.
http://www.alternet.org/story/...
You are welcome on my lawn.
I suppose if you keep telling yourself that then you think there is no reason to check to see what reality is doing. While what you mentioned is a problem a bit of a conversation with a charity dealing with such things would reveal that it is not as universal and simple as you suggest. Are those girls paid by lobbyists to service your elected representatives in Vegas and other places slaves?
Zolicoffer was sentenced to a year in state prison for the misdemeanor
For those reading the BCC in native UK, its hard to comprehend this being more than a sensible chuckle. However, in the united states, a conviction resulting in a prison term can prohibit you from ever getting a job. ex convicts are barred from social services in Oklahoma in many cases, cannot vote in elections, and are frequently required to pay restitution for their incarceration.
what Bates did was to issue biblical retribution for a victimless crime.
Bates runs a website where he publishes videos of alleged sex workers and their clients.
You'd better be very, very certain of what youre doing. impoverished sex workers and 9-5 johns dont fight back too hard. Trying this stunt with a C level for a major multinational however will earn you cancelled credit cards, ruined credit, and foreclosed homes.
the two individuals were inside a vehicle and the incident occurred away from other members of the public.
So you went out of your way to play Batman for the day. Its worth remembering though, that batman has an alter ego. People you have publicly destroyed now know your full first and last name. For many of them, there may be very little standing between them you.
Good people go to bed earlier.
If unable to have consensual sex for money with a lonely 75-year-old, Zolicoffer can no doubt fall back on more socially acceptable occupations like muggings or pushing drugs outside school. Besides, how is one to know whether a 27-year-old woman is making a voluntary choice to have sex. Sex outside marriage needs to be made illegal (as in Saudi Arabia) to ensure that no woman is ever pressured into sex against her will. The loophole of a woman providing sexual favors without charging money for it needs to be closed.
At some point, some John's going to get pissed enough about this because he's getting divorced and loses everything that he rids the world of the asshole and everything's back to normal.
Remember kids: If the law fails to solve problems, people will.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
You can provide some references beyond hysterical news stories? My guess that there is some of this, but far more is drug addiction related. As well, if you read Dan Savage, you probably know that there are willing "sex workers" as well.
No, likely they can't. It's because the core point of their statement is false. Most prostitutes are women from within the country they live in, and have lived there all their lives. Not saying that it doesn't happen, it does, but in those instances where the women and men are in those circumstances they usually operate out of a bawdy house or something along those lines.
Something that a lot of people don't understand either is that you'll find prostitutes very law abiding at least here in Canada. If they're picked up, they'll have their surety posted as soon as they know what it'll be and they'll show up for their court cases. They'll also snitch on other prostitutes and pimps who are selling drugs or engaged in other things in those lines.
Om, nomnomnom...
...than sex. Or porn. Or to swear.
http://statelaws.findlaw.com/o...
A. Every person who willfully either: ...
3. Writes, composes, stereotypes, prints, photographs, designs, copies, draws, engraves, paints, molds, cuts, or otherwise prepares, publishes, sells, distributes, keeps for sale, or exhibits any obscene or indecent writing, paper, book, picture, photograph, motion picture, figure, form of any description or any type of obscene material; or
4. Makes, prepares, cuts, sells, gives, loans, distributes, keeps for sale, or exhibits any disc record, metal, plastic, or wax, wire or tape recording, or any type of obscene material or any other kind of sound recording of any obscene or indecent language, poetry, or songs, or who speaks any words by means of a telephone to any person which are offensive to decency or are calculated to excite vicious or lewd thoughts or acts, or who speaks any other communicable words which are offensive to decency or are adapted to excite vicious or lewd thoughts or acts,
shall be guilty, upon conviction, of a felony and shall be punished by the imposition of a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) or by imprisonment for not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ten (10) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Persons convicted under paragraphs 3 and 4 of subsection A of this section shall not be eligible for a deferred sentence.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person knowing that he or she has Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or is a carrier of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and with intent to infect another, to engage in conduct reasonably likely to result in the transfer of the person's own blood, bodily fluids containing visible blood, semen, or vaginal secretions into the bloodstream of another, or through the skin or other membranes of another person, except during in utero transmission of blood or bodily fluids, and:
1. The other person did not consent to the transfer of blood, bodily fluids containing blood, semen, or vaginal secretions; or
2. The other person consented to the transfer but at the time of giving consent had not been informed by the person that the person transferring such blood or fluids had AIDS or was a carrier of HIV.
B. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not more than five (5) years.
So basically, someone could get 10 years for describing a dream in which he/she gives AIDS to someone through sexual intercourse - but only 5 years if it was not a dream.
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
"Here are some references. The US State Department estimates about 21 million human trafficking victims, of which about 20% are forced into the sex trade."
So 80% enter it willingly? I think you need to look up the definition of "most".
That's worldwide, Tony. We're talking about the United States here.
You are welcome on my lawn.
When the demand is illegal, the supply will be illegal. This is something so obvious that even you should be able to comprehend it.
It is common for men to purchase sex with trafficking victims and never have a clue the person is coerced.
Not true, unless by "common", you mean something that almost never happens.
Entirely true. Try listening to human trafficking survivors some time. Or any of the many people who work with them. Or answer the Polaris Project's human trafficking hotline. There's plenty of evidence disproving your belief; you just don't want to hear it.