Death Penalty Pros and Cons

Introduction

Capital punishment is necessary in order for justice to prevail. Capital punishment is the execution of criminals for committing crimes that are so heinous, that is the only acceptable punishment. Capital punishment is a long and heated desperate that has been going on for years. This is a tricky subject though since so many people have trouble deciding for themselves where to draw the line with their own morals. Some people say that killing in any form is absolutely wrong. Some people agree that killing is wrong, however, if one person kills another it's what they deserve. Capital Punishment does not stop people from killing one another. However, the one thing it mainly does is stop a known or a would be killer from killing innocent peoples.

Analysis

The death penalty is effective because it deters crimes, but many people argue that life without parole is much harder to serve for the person who committed the crime, “Abolitionist claim there are some alternatives to the death penalty, they say life without parole serves just as well” (Zimring, pp 4-99). I agree with putting away the murderer is effective, but just isn't enough. Laws change, so do parole boards, and people forget the past. As long the murderer is alive, there's a small possibility that he/she could strike again. Capital punishment is the most effective weapon against murderers; because no executed murderer has ever killed again. You cannot say that about those sentenced to prison.

Death sentence also depends on the case. I am not saying that everybody who commits a murder should be placed on death row. There are different types of murder and every murder that was planned or intentional should be severely punished. As Hugo Adam Badeu states, “Despicable crimes should be dealt with realistically” (Bedau, pp 22-189). I have no mercy for the killers, and nobody should have any mercy for anybody who does harm to another human being. Who gives the right to anyone to commit crime anyway? Michael Kronenwetter says, “The death penalty has always been considered especially appropriate for the crime of murder”. Murder is the biggest crime and biggest offense, and it should be treated like that (Banner, pp 12-199).

Over the years, public safety has become a meaningless thing, not worth defending anymore, and the death penalty has been persecuted for just that reason. Every country in the world is ready and willing to kill thousands, even millions of human beings in brutal, merciless way to defend their nation from the aggression of other countries. I don't see why public safety doesn't deserve as much respect and protection as a nation's national security does? In fact, it can be argued that supporting armies and war is far more barbaric than the death penalty is. The whole reason why nations and governments exist is to defend their citizens form vicious attacks and criminals. When it fails to do that, they become of little use to its citizens (Zimring, pp ...