Capital punishment is a legal procedure whereby an individual is executed by the state for the crimes he/she has committed. Even though this sentence has been adopted by many governments, capital punishment has remained a controversial issue around the globe. Capital punishment is mainly used for the punishment of atrocious and heinous crimes, particularly murder. In addition, death penalty as it is also known is also used on crimes against humanity, espionage, reason, and crimes against the state. Many states and interest groups have mixed reactions and views on capital punishment depending on their country and their faith. In my view, I do not support capital punishment because, I strongly believe that, capital punishment is a cruel and an unacceptable practice that denies one the right to live and does not help in deterring crimes. In addition, I believe that, two wrongs do not make a right and therefore, murdering someone who has committed murder does not bring back life.
Capital punishment is a cruel, an unacceptable, and a morally wrong practice that should not be supported by anyone. First, this punishment violates an individual’s right to life because it denies him/her the right to live and no one has a right the other the right to life. In addition, capital punishment degrades and disrespects the value of human life because of the way they are executed (Hilary and Scott 8). However, opponents argue that, the same way the criminal denies the victim the right to live, they have to have to be denied the right to live too. In addition, capital punishment brings justice to the victims and their families. Those in support of capital punishment argue that, executing a criminal does not invalidate the condition or bring back the life of the victims, therefore, two wrongs does not make a right, making capital punishment morally wrong. Nonetheless, opponents argue that, even though it does not bring back the victims to life, but it will make the probable murderers to fear committing the murder crime because, they will have a fear of dying like the other perpetrators. Moreover, capital punishment does not achieve anything; instead, it causes more sorrow since another life is lost in the same manner. Therefore, according to the proponents, capital punishment should be abolished because, it is unacceptable and it does not bring back the lives lost.
Those in support of capital punishment argue that, real criminals have been pardoned due to lack of evidence or bribery, thus putting people’s lives at risk because, when they are out, they continue killing innocent people. Therefore, capital punishment should be supported because; these criminals will not be able to get out and thus prevent more deaths caused by them. Nonetheless, capital punishment should not be supported because it can lead to the execution of guiltless citizens. According to Hartnett (102), innocent people have been executed through capital punishment because, many convicted murderers have later on been pardoned because they are found not guilty, whereas, in the case of death sentence, the criminals will already be dead, but they were guiltless. Moreover, some criminals are murdered innocently for the lack of money to pay defense lawyers in their cases because they are poor (Hilary and Scott 16). Such cases are closed with capital punishment and this means, this punishment is in favor of the rich because the poor cannot afford a defense lawyer.
Opponents argue that, murderers or perpetrators of atrocious crimes should be executed because, if they are left off the hook, they will still commit the same crimes and this means, many innocent lives that could be saved will still be lost in the hands of these criminals. In addition, anyone who murders ought to be murdered too in order to have an ordeal of their own atrocity. Moreover, they argue that, capital punishment will help to prevent more crimes as well as preventing predictable massacres. However, there are many studies on capital punishment, and not any has verified with numbers that executing criminals helps deter crimes (Garland 134). Furthermore there is no justification at all, as to why a wrong should be compensated with committing another wring. The main purpose of a punishment is to change the criminals, but capital punishment does not do that. When criminals are executed, they are taught nothing because they are no more, but if they are incarcerated, they will learn from their mistakes. Therefore, capital punishment should be abolished since; it does not change criminals because their lives are put to an end. In addition, capital punishment does not deter crime because most of the states where this punishment is legalized, crime is being reported on a higher rates (Parks 79). Therefore, capital punishment should be put to an end and the states should come up with a different way to punish those who commit crimes other than arguing that it helps reduce crime while innocent lives are being lost at the same time people being denied their right to life. It should be noted that, here are other ways of punishing these criminals and deterrence other than putting their lives to an end.
In conclusion, capital punishment has become a topic of controversy in several countries. However, some countries still use this punishment for atrocious crimes while others have eliminated it completely in their states. Capital punishment is a cruel and an unacceptable practice that should be abolished because it denies one the right to live and does not help in deterring crimes. In addition, this punishment should be eliminated because there are other ways of deterrence and punishing criminals like life sentence. If capital punishment helped deter criminals as opponents argue, why are there still many atrocious crimes in the countries where it is legalized? Capital punishment does not deter crimes and every individual has the right to live whether a criminal or not. Therefore, capital punishment should be put to an end in all states because it does not serve its purpose; deterring crimes. Capital punishment is a cruel and a morally wrong practice that should not be supported, and so are the methods used in the procedure.
Works Cited
Garland, David. Peculiar Institution: Americas Death Penalty in an age of Abolition. New York: Belknap Press, 2010. Print.
Hartnett, Stephen John. Executing Democracy, Volume 2: Capital Punishment and the Making of America, 1635-1843. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press, 2012. Print.
Hilary, Dotson and Scott, Carter, J. Changing Views toward the Death Penalty? The Intersecting Impact of Race and Gender on Attitudes, 1974-2006, Justice System Journal, 33.1, (2012):1-20 Print.
Parks, Peggy J. Does the Death Penalty Deter Crime? San Diego, CA: Reference point Press Inc, 2009. Print.
