Classified online and print ads of any type have been used countless times to lure innocent victims into violent crimes. Should ALL classified ads be outlawed? I doubt that Village Voice will cave as easily as did CraigsList.

Consider what happened to this US Marine..........

http://news.yahoo.com/florida-marine-veteran-shot-craigslist-robbery-used-fingers-172856828.html

.

Unlike criagslist, Backpage has the cash to defend themselves in court. And the escort section is to profitable to just give up.

Terrible story though.

The World's Oldest profession isn't going anywhere.

has a different business model AND a sound legal position: "Backpage.com immune from liability for human sex trafficking ads."

Decision August 15, 2011, Missouri: "immune ... because they were passive internet service providers, entitled to immunity under the Communications Decency Act"

But even if they do manage to take down BP, the ads will move somewhere else, most likely someplace overseas not inclined to cooperate with U.S LE.  If the State Ag's had any sense they would leave BP alone; right now all the ads are right out there for them to see and they might be able to get cooperation from Village Voice in matters such as this one.  But they seem more inclined to go over the cheap and easy publicity of trying to shut down a website.