Death Penalty - A Valid Punishment?
From “Old Sparky” to the modern day lethal injection, the death penalty has been used for many years as a way of putting away convicts banished to death row. However, is it fair for our judicial system to deem a person worthy of suffering such a fate? What if the convict is genuinely sorry for his crime (ie, murder), are we, as compassionate human beings, allowed to give him a second chance?
You guys may think I’m being too critical or unforgiving, but I think the death penalty is “too easy” of a punishment. If a serial killer murders my parents when my brother and I are away at school, there’s no amount of forgiveness that I will ever accept. No one can ever be “genuinely sorry” for such a sadistic act, no matter how much time elapses. If I was able to decide his fate, it would be “life in prison” with no opportunity for parole. This way, he too will suffer every single day that I do.
One can argue that “life in prison” WITH parole may be a better, more humane alternative, but studies have shown that the number of murders have decreased substantially courtesy of the death penalty. In fact, for every death row inmate executed, roughly ten civilians have been spared. Parole would just give them the potential to go out and harm more innocent people.
Everyone knows that voluntarily claiming someone else’s life without due cause (ie, in self-defense) will probably result in a severe, death-penalty-like consequence. This in itself is a reason why we shouldn’t have sympathy on those who STILL choose to pursue such violent activities. Parole just makes us seem too forgiving. Imagine being the husband whose wife was raped and then murdered. Then, the person responsible for those acts is let free? Do people actually think that they “learned their lesson” after a few years in prison? That’s ridiculous. Once a person can descend to that state-of-mind, it’s always a part of them.
What do you think?
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I say kill them all, let God sort them out. The Death Penalty is, in my opinion, perfect for American societ and I believe it should be implemented in all governments around the world. There are those who will argue that, according to statistics, it doesn’t work and people still commit murder despite the knowledge that they could go to Death Row. However, if my beautiful, highly intelligent wife (Lol. I have high hopes!) were to be murdered, I would want that scum to be put to death immediately. There is a sense of satisfaction in knowing that the person who killed a loved one, was caught and also was put to death. Sure, this will not bring back the person you lost, but you would do society a favor in helping rid of someone evil. I prefer Death Penalty over life in prison because the food and economic cost to maintain a murder in jail could go to a better cause. In Mexico, there is no capital punishment and that is why the drug cartels are so bold. They get caught and either escape or get released (drug money). I wish my President Calderon would institute the death penalty to get rid of those murdering animals in general.
I took Media Law my last qtr at HBU, and my professor who was a Lawyer made a great point. He felt Texas should just buy some land in the middle of nowhere and build a prison and put it there. He also felt this would save money, since the land and utilities etc would be cheap. He mentioned the city name but I forgot. But anyways, I agreed because I do think they should suffer everyday, with no parole, but these days they have perks, because from what I hear, prison life is good. Which scares me cause any bum living on the street might commit a crime so they can get food, shelter, clothing, tv, etc..Lol…
But as far as the death penalty, I like Islams Law on it.. (which obviously only Muslim countries have)
Its basically “an eye for an eye” HOWEVER…the decision is left upto the family of the one murdered. That way no one can be acquitted if they pay enough money for a good lawyer, and no one innocent is given a harsh judgement.
So thats my two cents.
I completely agree. I think the death penalty is justice. To some degree the death penalty is not a harsh enough treatment. Let just said a man raped a woman, kill her, and dissemble her body. He is scheduled to died by lethal injection. That is to nice of a death sentence for a harsh crime.
Aristotle said “The only stable state is the one in which ALL MEN are equal before the law . I think America should take this to heart because Aristotle was a genius, my favorite philosopher by far. I do not think America is equal at all because they let the rich get away with crimes and let the victims suffered.
I agree with you Rishi, I think the death penalty should be legal for harsh crime, if some one killed my family I be mad I would want them put to death right away, but then again I am doing it out of anger and anger will never solve anything because as some people said, where there is anger, there is no room for reason.