The Death Penalty

This is something I feel quite strongly about. I am VERY pleased we live in a country where constitutionally the Death Penalty is not an option. I do not think it is a deterrent to heinous crimes and as a punishment inadvertently justifies one of the things it is trying to stop.

I understand the concept of killing in self-defence, although I would prefer a weapon that allowed you to incapacitate someone. If we were at War, and people were trying to kill my family and friends, I would fight. However, both of these examples are ones where there is no apparent alternative. There is no possibility of `imprisoning’ because immediate action is required.

However, I do not think for example that by killing Saddam Hussein that any justice was met. He is Dead, yes. For him and his followers, they do not see this as such a bad thing. For those against whom he committed such atrocities, they may never find out the full extent of what he actually did. Nothing can bring those people back.

Saddam Hussein is perhaps an example for its advocates of where the Death Penalty is best deserved. Other crimes which may be seen as perfect examples are serial killers and child rapists. These crimes seem hideous enough to warrant the `most extreme’ penalty. The thing is firstly, these people are sick and unlikely to stop what they were going to do because they don’t think they will get caught. My other concern is, how extreme a penalty is the Death Penalty anyway? For those who believe in an eternity in hell… perhaps its extreme… but wouldn’t they have ended up there anyway? For those who don’t believe in hell, a quick death of which the person may not even be afraid… is hardly that bad at all.

I think it comes down to respect for life. How do you create a society that sees that as important if you celebrate the death of those who stray… Kind of eye for eye, tooth for tooth… both people end up blind and toothless, and everyone is worse off.