Capital Punishment

Murderers deserve capital punishment! Throughout the years capital punishment has been a much debated subject. There are those who oppose it and those who favor it. Our textbook defines capital punishment as "The death penalty" (Schmalleger, 2003, p.406). Capital punishment is recognized by many as the ultimate penalty. Persons who receive the death penalty will, more than likely, have committed a terrible crime like murder.

The death penalty has been around for many centuries, it dates back to before 200 B.C. with the Athenian society. Throughout the Roman empire criminals and outcasts were crucified or killed by throwing stones at them. In the Dark Ages 426 A.D., executions were institutionalized through the use of ordeals designed to both judge and punish. By the early 1890s, electrocution had replaced hanging as the dominant form of capital punishment. Between 1930 and 1967, when the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a nationwide stay of pending executions, nearly 3,800 people were put to death. Substantially fewer persons (66) were executed in 2001. (Schmalleger, 2003, p.406). The number of people being executed may have gone down but it is still happening.

Why do people favor capital punishment? Many favor it because they believe it will make someone think twice before actually committing a crime. Others feel that unless the criminal is put to death he or she will still have a chance to commit another crime. However, this is not my belief. I oppose capital punishment because I feel it is morally wrong. How can killing someone for killing be right? After all are we not doing the same? The reason I oppose capital punishment is based on my catholic background. A second reason would be my personal believe that everyone deserves a second chance.

"Capital punishment protects public safety much more effectively than does life in prison without parole. Convicts serving life sentences can still kill guards and other inmates. Moreover, convicts who escape often commit murder and other violent acts against innocent people. Additionally, when a murderer is sentenced to life without parole, it does not mean that he will carry out that entire sentence--the average prison sentence served for homicide is five years and eleven months. Laws and parole boards change over the years and convicted murders serving life may suddenly be eligible for parole. While a murderer is alive, there is always the chance that he or she will murder or harm an innocent person again." (Lowe, 2003)

"The death penalty will not bring back the victims of violent crime, but I am confident that it will act as a deterrent of crime and it will save lives. Those who disagree only need to look to the account of the August 1977 riot at Eastern Correctional Facility, where correctional officers being held hostage overheard inmates deciding against executing the hostages because, at the time, it was a capital offense. The deterrent saved lives. Without the death penalty as a tool for jurists, a murderer can kill again without consequence." (Pataki, 2001)

Many who oppose capital punishment do so because they see it as something cruel. They also that believe capital punishment will not deter crime. Christine Notis writes, "If the death penalty was administered more often, or if it was given to everyone who committed murder, then it would be a different story. If you knew that if you killed someone, you would automatically be executed, you might choose not to kill. The fact is, though, that it is not certain that all murderers will be executed. Some will be found innocent, some sentences will be appealed, and some defendants will be found insane, and not even go to jail. The point is that right now murderers are not faced with the certainty of their deaths, but with only a risk. This is just like driving a car or smoking. In 1995, a total of 3,054 prisoners were sentenced to death. Of these individuals, only 56 were actually executed. It is hard to fear for your death when there is a very small risk of actually dying." (2002) I agree with many of those who oppose it because I also see capital punishment as something very cruel. Further on I will argue that death will not alleviate a person's grief over a lost loved one. However, it will create more grief. Why? Simple, now you will have one more family grieving the loss of a lost one, the family of the person being executed. I feel that the person's family does not have to suffer more because of what their relative may have done. It is morally wrong to execute someone trying to make things right.

I was raised and still am a practicing catholic which in a way affects the way I see things.