Summary:
Discusses the issue of Capital Punishment. Considers pros and cons. Debates if the practice should still be allowed in the United States.
A "law", as defined in the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a rule established by authority, society or custom." When a person violates a law it is expected that they will be punished and referred to professional help to understand that their actions were wrong. If a person violates a set of laws simultaneously, what should the government do about it? Gary Leon Ridgway, also known as the Green River Killer, should be executed instead of serving life sentences without parole.
Yet the reason for capital punishment is frequently said to be revenge when it really is retribution and moral. Revenge is used to get even with someone that has injured him or her, even if it was illegal. "As opposed to revenge, retribution is legally threatened with an imposed social institution prior for an act prohibited by law" (Van den Haag 59). "Capital punishment is an expression of society's moral outrage at particularly offensive conduct...so grievous an affront to humanity that the only adequate response may be the penalty of death"(Comrad 60). If criminals suffer punishments by a state's laws equal to their crime, then killing a murderer is equal.
The fact remains that some religious people disagree about killing another person, but others agree with some key parts in the Bible that agree about execution. In the Ten Commandments, it says, "thou shall not kill" and in the Exodus 21:12 it says, "whoever strikes a man a mortal blow must be put to death." (Hartman 21). A few Christian scholars and theologians--Catholics and Protestants-agree that execution is morally acceptable to punish sadistic murderers not able to be rehabilitated (Gow 81). When the Bible was written, it was not for only some, but intended for everyone, including murderers. In Genesis 9:6 it states, "If anyone sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has man been made." (Hartman 9) "Traditional Catholic teaching maintains that capital punishment is a morally justified and much needed deterrent to criminals" (Gow 83). Children are taught everyday that violence and killing is wrong and punishment is included. In Genesis 9:6 it states "who sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." When a violent person kills, he or she lost their rights to have the options of choosing anymore.
Granted, some people will always oppose capital punishment for the sake of society when actually it is a
safeguard for society.
"I believe that society is justified in destroying even the irresponsible murderer if he is known to imperil the life of other persons. There should be no sentiment about it" (Crowe 47).
Everyday people choose whether to be a respectable and good citizen or choose to excel in crime and be the enemy of society. People who oppose capital punishment forget murder is permanent because victims will never live again. "Many confuse the relation of the victim of a rime to the state's interest to prosecute the criminal" (Crowe 46). Punishment is most always effective when it is equal to the crime committed, which is logical. Society is securely protected when a murderer is removed, but only if it is permanent.
No doubt, most people will say that rehabilitation is far better than execution, but it is wrong to give the legal chances to escape their punishment. If someone commits a serious crime, such as murder, he or she will not be easily forgiven or excused from punishment. "Most murderers could be released if rehabilitation was the government's goal for punishment" (Comrad 61). When a criminal is in jail, we the people of the United States punish he or she for what they have done, but not for what they are capable of in the future. The Romans thought that every human being should be
sacred to every other human being but were hypocrites because they would execute murderers at the drop of a hat. (Comrad 61) Any society that allows murderers of innocent life do not intend to protect or for the lives of its members. "To believe that a murderer has the same right to live as his victim is crossing the line, because it does not define moral reasons but instead physical equalities" (Comrad 61). Innocent victims deserved to live, but the murderers do not because his life could never be as sacred as the victim's was.
Assuredly, no matter what, people will always break laws, but when criminals who commit serious crimes are executed, that helps deter other criminals from committing crimes. The current system of crime and punishment if far from perfect. "Capital punishment has been looked down on for its lack of perfection, so it needs improvement" (Bright 108). In the past, some people that were accused of murder, then executed had been later found innocent. Since the execution rate is low, why would it not be easy for potential murderers to think they will escape their own death?
"Nationwide, police have blamed the Supreme Court for the huge crime increase saying the large selection of rights under the Warren Court, have slowed them down to an extent
ensuing crime was inevitable" (Spence 98).
"It must become clear to latent murderers that extinction in a chair or at the end of a rope is assured. The terror of death for potential killers outside prison walls must resemble the panic of convicted killers within"
(Bright 110).
No murderer on death row should ever have the option of legally escaping their execution after killing any other human being.
No argument would justify keeping one man, who killed at least forty-eight innocent women, alive. Morality of society includes capital punishment for the protection of the lives of innocent people. On death row, criminals still have the options of lessoning their original punishments of execution. Once the rate of execution rises, it will strongly caution future or current criminals to rethink their illegal intentions. The Bible was intended for all people including criminals like murderers. A person who commits a crime should always have equal punishment issued by the government.
Works Cited
Bright, Neil "More Executions Will Deter Murder"
Death Penalty Opposing View Points
New Guard Publishing Company New York
1982 108-110
Comrad and Gora "The Death Penalty Is Moral"
Death Penalty Opposing View Points
Plenum Publishing Company New York
1983 61
Crowe, Robert "Capital Punishment Is A Safeguard for Society"
Death Penalty Opposing View Points
Greenhaven Press Publishing Company Illinois
1925 46-47
Gow, Haven Bradford "Religious Views Support the Death Penalty"
Death Penalty Opposing View Points
Human Events Publishing Company Illinois
1985 81-83
Hartman, Louis The New American Bible With Revised New Testament. Nashville: Catholic Bible Press.
Spence, Karl "The Death Penalty Deters Murder"
Death Penalty Opposing View Points
National Review Inc. Publishing Company New York
1983 98
Van den Haag, Ernest "The Death Penalty is Moral"
Death Penalty Opposing View Points
New York: Plenum Publishing Company
1983 59
This is the complete article, containing 1,114 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page).
