Even though all humans have a right to life, there are certain circumstances whereby this right can be overruled for instance taking the life of person. Death penalty has been adopted by many states and is commonly used for heinous crimes, especially murder. It is also used on crimes against the state such as treason, crimes against humanity, espionage and violent crimes while other states use it as part of military justice. A debate over death penalty has been going on for years now and continues to be extremely indecisive and a complicated issue. It is discussed as a religious, ethical and legal issue historically as well as in present day. Capital punishment is believed to be the only punishment that gives justice to the victims involved.
Capital punishment also known as death penalty is the act of executing or killing a person found guilty of a serious crime by the state. There are mixed reactions on capital punishment depending on one’s faith and the state they come from. I am arguing as a retentionist for death penalty meaning that I am in favor of death penalty, as I strongly believe that if all states approve it, many innocent lives can be saved and it can result in justice being done to the victims as it is the best way to serve justice to convicted murderers of innocent people. If this penalty is scrapped, there will be no deterrence and murderers will continue to kill unabated.
Human life is consecrated and sacred and for this reason, I find death penalty acceptable and anyone killing deserves to die too. There is no rationalization at all as to why someone who denies another the right to live should be let off the hook. Not all murderers should be left alive and so they should have a taste of their own cruelty. The rebuttal by some states to approve capital punishment has clearly led to an increase in the number of murders. Some people have even gone to the extent of moving to states that are not in favor of this punishment. In the process, they have escaped judicial system and denied justice to the victims. In addition it is possible that such persons will continue to kill at will since they are let free yet they are murderers. Everyone should advocate for capital punishment to be enforced in all states so that people committing heinous crimes do not get away unpunished.
Capital punishment should be meted out to persons who have been convicted legally for the atrocious crimes they have committed. This way, it acts as deterrence to existing and would-be offenders and as a result reduces by a large proportion the number of murders in our society (Schabas 67). If the state fails to execute such offenders, many lives are put in danger, particularly when the offender turns out to be a serial killer. If the judicial system in every state approves capital punishment, homicide rates will drop by a large margin.
Everybody is entitled to the right to life and so no one should be deprived of this right. Murder is the worst form of inhuman and derisive act that can ever be perpetuated on an individual. Why should an individual who denies another their most basic right be let free? All states must support capital punishment to uphold the sanctity of life. Capital punishment is the best punishment that can be used to protect people’s right to life. No one should deny another person the right to live and if death penalty is passed to those who commit the murder crime, it will be the best way to protect this right. Since life is sacred according to all religions, no one should be deprived of the right to live; hence, murderers should be put to death by the state to protect the right to life of its citizenry. Death penalty helps to get rid of repeat murders and to prevent foreseeable killings or massacre as was recently witnessed in Norway (Mandery 92). In order to serve justice to the victims, it is necessary to end the life of the murderer as a deserving punishment.
Another advantage of death penalty is deterrence. Death penalty helps to maintain law and order. Criminals will always become conscious of the aftermath of their actions, thus they will refrain from committing any crime that might lead to them losing their lives. Law and order cannot be maintained as long as the state remains lenient with the criminals. However much people argue that it will not deter everyone by using death penalty, I am fully convinced that it will deter some as many will fear being executed and so will not commit atrocious crimes. It deters murderers in the sense that by taking the life of a convicted murderer, they will not be around to kill once again but if they are imprisoned, they will still get an opportunity to kill once again.
In conclusion, capital punishment is the best punishment given to perpetrators of heinous crimes. Even though many people have been against death penalty, I am in favor of death penalty, for I strongly believe that if all states approve it, many innocent lives can be saved and it can result in justice being done to the victims. Human life is sacred and anyone taking it away should have their own lives taken away too. In addition, every one is entitled to the right of life and no one should be deprived of this right. Capital punishment should be supported by all states because it will help reduce heinous crimes and restrain potential murderers. This will help save many lives and law and order shall be maintained. All states should make sure that their laws are not lenient on criminals but strict to serve its best humanitarian purpose.
Works Cited
Vaughn, Lewis. "Capital Punishment." Doing Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Contemporary Issues. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2008. Print.
Mandery, Evan. Capital Punishment a balanced Examination. New York: Jones & Bartley Publishers, 2005. Print.
Schabas, William. The abolition of Death Penalty in International Law. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Print
