Some people think that keeping criminals in prison costs too much so Capital Punishment should be used. I disagree with this because then criminals are just getting an easy way out and Execution costs a lot more than keeping a criminal in prison. Capital Punishment is wrong, pointless and sick. Capital Punishment will affect more than just the criminal themselves; using it isn’t fair on the criminal’s family and friends. It will put them through a lot of grief so it shouldn’t be used. Capital punishment shouldn’t be used because it takes away every human basic right- the right to live! The life is denied by the death penalty. The possibility of an error is another reason why Capital Punishment is a bad idea. Someone who was innocent of a crime could be killed! Sometimes this could be due to the person being unable to afford a good lawyer and this isn’t fair on them. Capital Punishment doesn’t deter violent crime. Statistics have shown no decrease in crimes while Capital Punishment has been used. In fact the shocking truth is it has actually increased! Crime in America is 6 times more than the Crime in Britain! Sometimes people who commit crimes have reasons, like emotional trauma, depression or , and should be helped instead of being put to death. Capital punishment itself is murder, murder, murder! Life value is lowered; Capital Punishment Promotes killing as an OK solution to a difficult problem. It shows society that revenge is necessary to punish wrong doings. Capital Punishment should be banned altogether. Using it is sinking down to a criminals level. For example if a murderer was sentenced to death, the people who agree with the killing of this person are sinking to the criminal’s level, they disagree with the murderer’s crime yet they agree in the killing of the murderer? Where is the sense in that?! Victor Hugo quotes "What says the law? You will not kill. How does it say it? By killing!"
In the Bible Exodus 20:13 it states clearly “Thou shalt not kill”, Capital punishment is killing so therefore it is going against a commandment so then it shouldn’t be used. In John 3:3-11 Jesus does not endorse it in the stoning of the adulterous woman. Jesus says “All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!” When the accusers heard this they went away. No one condemned the woman. Jesus told her to “Go and sin no more.” This part of the bible shows that Capital Punishment is wrong and should not be used. Some people try to back up the use Capital Punishment by quoting from Matthew 5:38 which talks about the Law of Moses – “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” but if you go on to read Matthew 5:39-9 Jesus talks about turning the other cheek, loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you. These are more good reasons why Capital Punishment shouldn’t be used. In Genesis 1:26 we are made in the image and likeness of God, this gives us a certain dignity and Capital Punishment is a violation of that. In Genesis 4:15, God spared Cain and did not execute him. Such crimes do not earn the death penalty in the Bible, this only suggests that they should not earn Capital Punishment today either.
George Bernard Shaw quotes “It is the deed teaches, not the name we give it. Murder and Capital Punishment are not opposites that cancel one another, but similar that breeds their own kind.” Capital Punishment is hypocritical and pointless- Why do we kill people to show that killing people is wrong?! Desmond Tutu once said"To take a life when a life has been lost is revenge, not justice." This quote is another reason why Capital Punishment should not to return to the UK.
Terrorism is much more a threat today than in the ‘60’s, for example September 11th when the twin towers were struck. Some people say that Capital Punishment should be re-introduced because of this. I disagree with this, because Capital Punishment wouldn’t work on Terrorists because they are willing to die for their cause in the first place, so taking their life is nothing to them. Also if a Terrorist is executed their terrorist group could retaliate so it is too dangerous.
After looking at the different points of view and the evidence for them I definitely disagree with Capital Punishment. It should never be brought back to the UK! It obviously doesn’t work in America so why would it work here? We should be moving forwards instead of backwards. It was abolished and it should stay that way! Capital Punishment doesn’t work, it’s hypocritical and unsafe!
