“Under legislation pending in the Illinois Senate, operators of adult entertainment facilities would pay a $5 fee to the state for each person who enters their establishments, with the proceeds going to fund rape crisis centers and other sexual assault assistance organizations.”I applaud State Sen. Toi Hutchinson’s idea. She adds up that since topless clubs are supplying “sex and alcohol,” which can sometimes be triggering factors to abuse that they should be willing to aid the plight of abused women.
Of course, I also understand the Illinois Club Owners Association’s opposition to this legislation.
"What do the clubs have to do with abused women?" Ronan said. "I don't want to make light of it, but we just don't get the connection."Other states have tried similar legislation, but have never succeeded in their implementation.
I mean, if we’re going to tax things that might be dangerous and put that money toward helping groups that might be affected by similar things, we can actually probably help a lot of people.
Cigarette taxes to go toward aiding youth without health insurance or on cleaning up our environment?
Junk food taxes to help battle the problem of childhood obesity?
The question then becomes—where does the taxing end?
From the strip clubs viewpoint though I would think there’s a positive way to view the legislation. Instead of fighting it, why not champion it? Show the world that strip clubs aren’t all bad? That although there is alcohol and the fantasy of sex sold, there are also decent people who want to do good in the world in existence in that same environment.
