Life is a precious gift from God. Even when a person has no material
possessions, life is still
possessed. In light of these observations it is logical
to assume that murder, the taking of another's
life, is the most heinous of crimes. Undeniably, penalties imposed upon criminals
should match the
crimes
committed. Therefore, the worst crime possible, murder, should
receive the worst penalty
possible, death.
One argument against the death penalty
is the Bible tells us not to
murder. Murder is the
unlawful killing
of one human being by another. The death
penalty is the lawful killing of a
human being after
a trial by peers. So by definition the death penalty is
not murder, but justice.
Furthermore, as
stated by Ed Koch, a former US Government official, "the execution of a
lawfully
condemned killer
is no more an act of murder than is
legal imprisonment an act of kidnaping".
Finally, the same
Bible that condemns murder also advocates "an eye for an eye and a tooth
for a
tooth". This statement could be further developed to include a life for a life.
It is argued, the death penalty should be
banned to prevent the execution of
innocent individuals
unjustly
convicted of capital murder.
Statistically this has occurred;
however, given the lengthy
appeals process,
all but few ultimately die, innocent or guilty.
The above statistic applies to all
crimes, from
theft to kidnaping. Should no one be
punished because of shortcomings in the judicial
system? Obviously, society could not function within
a system devoid of law enforcement, because
where there is no
law, there is chaos.
Some argue that death is too good for
capital offenders. This position favors
inhumane and
unlawful
disciplinary actions like torture and life imprisonment. Though some think it
not harsh
enough, the death
penalty delivers justice quickly and effectively. Capital punishment is more
humane than life imprisonment. For example, a murderer sentenced to life must endure his entire
existence
imprisoned, which is a type of torture.
On the other hand, a murderer sentenced to death
is executed. Punishment is final.
Finally, people argue that punishing
violence with violence is not civil or effective. This view
is correct;
however, in the case of the death penalty, violence is not being
committed. Violence is
the use of
excessive force in order to intimidate or destroy. The death penalty involves a lengthy
appeals process,
the just processing of a criminal, and when the time occurs, a solemn and
precise
execution. This procedure is in no way violent and is
completely civil and effective.
Death by execution is deplorable. Government mandated executions are not exempt
from this
statement. For society to function in a meaningful way
and its citizenry to feel safe and secure,
individuals must
be confident that criminals will be apprehended and dealt with in a fashion
commensurate to
their crimes. The death penalty achieves this. Although it has been contested on
the grounds that
it is against God's will, it risks the unnecessary execution of an innocent
person, it
is not harsh
enough, and it is too violent, the death penalty is necessary to preserve a
safe and orderly
society.
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