Those who are against often feel that capital punishment should remain in the past. They also feel that, by taking the life of another we are no better than the criminal in question. Also, as we are a modern society they believe that no individual or body of individuals has the right to dictate whether somebody should live or die, whatever the crime. They also feel that even if a person is put to death we are achieving nothing by this. The death penalty isn’t really a deterrent as there will always be ‘crimes of passion’ where innocent peoples lives are destroyed at the hands of somebody who, for one split second may loose control of their senses and lash out. There will always be premeditated murders where the murderer is in complete control. But who should and who shouldn’t have the right to choose between the two? They have both taken lives, should they both be put to death? An eye for an eye?
And what happens in the event of a wrong person being put to death? How do you tell that persons family that the government made a ‘mistake?’
Some say that the families of those who are victims of horrific crimes would argue for capital punishment but others see this as an easy way out for the perpetrator. ‘Why not remove his freedom and lock him away for the rest of his life and let him live with the horror of what he has done.’ As a result most of these people would prefer to see a new legislation enforcing harsh sentences for our most violent criminals where life means exactly that – life!
That person is also denied a second chance or a right to change. Surely it would be better to prevent or cure rather than kill that person. The best way, I believe to reduce murderers from killing is to prevent them wanting to. Many murderers have had horrific childhoods in which they have been abused etc. I’m not giving this as an excuse but had the government tried to prevent this and therefore improved that life they would not need to remove it completely later on.
Why do we, in civilised communities feel that those with mental difficulties, often people who are hardly in control of their actions should be given the same trials and sentences as a person who is in a state where he is completely in control?
Some people who support capital punishment feel that by killing a murderer you are setting an example and that by taking life you are defending life. You only have to look at the crime rate in the USA compared to countries such as Canada where they don’t support the death penalty. It is hardly a deterrent.
Christians also do not believe in capital punishment for quote in the bible such as ‘he who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first’ (Jesus condemning a public execution of a woman for adultery.) This is like saying we have all made big mistakes or done wrong and been forgiven. This person is no different than us.
Surprisingly though in a country where capital punishment is banned the majority of people would like to see it reinstated. These people feel that if a person kills another person then the murderer should be killed as well. This because life has been denied the victim and so the only way to teach the murderer and the rest of society this is wrong is to deny the murderer of life. This means it is a way of deterring others from killing as they could end up with the same fate as those who have been put to death.