The Coalition Against Human Trafficking is a Rhode Island community group formed in response to the increase in ‘massage parlors’ and ‘spas’. These serve as fronts for brothels that traffic in people brought here illegally. The Coalition is a diverse group, and I have participated in many discussions about how to fight the human rights abuses of trafficking. This is not a morality crusade, and there are differing opinions on the question of civil liberties and the regulation of adult behavior, as well as the reasons people become vulnerable to exploitation. One strategy discussed is to arrest the customers. After all, they bring the money that supports the whole criminal enterprise. If this seems unduly harsh, I give as an example this shocking story —

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Former state legislator Coy C. Privette, a Cabarrus County commissioner and retired Baptist minister, was charged Thursday with aiding and abetting prostitution, authorities said. Privette, 74, was charged with six counts of misdemeanor aiding and abetting prostitution by renting a hotel room and paying for sexual acts, according to State Bureau of Investigation Agent Kevin Canty. Tiffany Denise Summers, 32, of Salisbury, was charged with six counts of misdemeanor prostitution, Canty said.

Privette is not only a retired minister, and really old–Privette is, until they kick him out, the president of the Christian Action League of North Carolina. This fine organization attacks immorality in all forms, and it’s really active. They’ll probably be busy finding a new president but when they get done–watch out!

But this is not the shocking part. There’s so many ‘family values’ types caught with prostitutes that it’s hard to keep them apart. The shocking part comes next —

Privette on two occasions allegedly paid the prostitute with checks then reported those checks as stolen, officials said.

This is debased beyond belief. This guy was not only making a career out of persecuting other people for their alleged immorality, he boinked this prostitute and then paid her with a check that would get her arrested when she cashed it.

Maybe when the Christian Action League promotes family values, they mean like the House of Borgia, or the Jukes, or Medea, or Bonnie and Clyde. The League’s president sure showed that old-time spirit when dealing with a harlot. No mercy there.

So I say, arrest the johns, starting with Coy Privette. Tiffany Denise Summers, who looks like her thirty two years have been rough ones, says she has put the past behind her and has found a new life. Maybe she should be the next president of the Christian Action League, if they find their way to repentance.