Not the Law's Business?: An Examination of Homosexuality, Abortion, Prostitution, Narcotics and Gambling in the United States

There is a certain congruence among the acts mentioned above. That congruence inheres in the fact that the marihuana smokers, the homosexuals, the abortionist and his client, and the "runner" and the persons wagering - though all are violating criminal statues - are in each instance committing acts which, in terms of the common understanding of the term, do not have victims. All parties directly concerned have chosen to do what they are doing voluntarily, presumable because they perceive that the benefits to them are apt to outweigh any disadvantages or inconveniences, including the possibility of penalties they might suffer at the hands of the law.