Capital Punishment

Isn't simple death a much too easy way out for someone who has commited a heinous crime?

Why should they just be put to death - surely they must be made to suffer first before leaving this world. So why not, at the very least, give them a good flogging or birching before they are put down? Let them feel a fraction of the agonies comparable to the crimes that they have committed. This would make the guilty appreciate the suffering they have caused and would also serve as a warning to others not to step out of line.

Draconian measures must be considered to stamp out the evil in the world today. Draco had the right idea, don't you think? Back in 620 BC he set out his laws. He wasn't too bothered. If it was pilfering or murder the sentence was the same - death. This certainly acted as a deterrant and could well be what is required at our present stage of development.

Okay so a few innocent people may be put to death in error. But does a few miscarriages of justice matter when compared to the bigger picture? A world virtually without murder and serious crimes, wouldn't that be something? Wouldn't we then have made progress as human beings? I know I'm asking a lot of questions!

In Britain we dumped the mandatory death penalty back in 1965. The world hasn't completely gone soft though. There's still plenty of support for capital punishment in civilised parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

If we look at some countries capital punishment isn't just for murder. It's death in China for rape and gang fighting, drug trafficking in Thailand, armed robbery in many parts of Africa and so on. And then there's the Islamic law: Sharia. They don't mess about!

Now we have to consider the best way to 'kill' these evil people? Hanging, guillotine, electric chair, crucifiction ... What do you mean, 'Thou shall not kill'? Who on earth would say something like that?

Okay, let's stop right there because ...

I'm actually completely opposed to Capital Punishment and anything that inflicts pain on others.

I was just trying to see how it would feel to have an opposing view to my natural way of thinking. It makes me quite sick inside to think that there are some people who support 'killing' another person, for that is the reality of capital punishment. I don't think 'we' have the right to end another human life no matter what terrible deed they may have carried out.

I know some people will waffle on about an 'eye for an eye' or something similar, especially as this is in the Bible (so it must be right!) But this isn't a justice that we should carry out. I believe that an eye for an eye is what actually happens by way of a natural law. Karma if you like. I won't dwell on this as I realise that many people will ridicule such ideas, but nevertheless it's my opinion (so perfectly valid!). I would go along with Jesus when he said about turning the other cheek. There has ultimately got to be forgiveness.

Of course, there has to be punishment for any crime as well. If there wasn't we would be in a right old mess. From what I have read there is no evidence, however, that capital punishment acts as a deterrent any more than life in prison. I believe there is a good argument though that life should mean life. I feel that a murderer surrenders his or her right to freedom by taking another life.

I accept that there are various degrees of killing or murder. There is a world of difference between killing with 'malice aforthought' (i.e. intending to kill or cause grievous injury) and killing someone accidently. Sentences have to reflect this. Let's keep 'real' killers, however, locked away for life.

An opposing argument to this is always along the lines of, "But look at how much it costs to keep someone in prison. If we bring back capital punishment think of the savings". I suppose this is true. We could also cut costs by not bothering to revive old people following an illness. This would save millions. Obviously this would be completely unacceptable. We must preserve life at all costs - even the lives of murderers (euthanasia is a whole different debate). There is a human right to life which must never be violated.

There is little liklihood that we would ever return to capital punishment in this country. Even if there was something like a referendum we must have moved too far along the line to resort to ever wanting to return to such a barbaric practice. It would be a step backwards in our civilisation - we have to move forward.

How would I react should the unspeakable happen to someone I love? Would I seek revenge or would I be able to forgive? I don't really know, none of us do. I'd like to think that I would be able to forgive. It's very easy to say something like this when not emotionally involved, the reality could be something very different. I don't believe that I would want the perpetrator of the crime to be given a death sentence (if this were an option). I don't see how this would help me in any way. We are, of course, all different.

I think that we have to look at capital punishment free of personal involvement. If we do I feel sure that the thought of it is abhorrent to most people. The only possible argument anyone could put forward is that it would be a deterrant. I have already said that there is no evidence to support this.

If anyone is in favour of bringing back capital punishment I would ask, "Why stop there?"

Why not also revert to flogging, birching, amputation and so on. No? It's barbaric? Well so is ending someone's life prior to it having run it's full course. What could be more barbaric than this?

"Ah," you might argue, "But the person concerned has also caused a death".

So are we going to exact revenge as we have been done by? A rape for a rape, a knife stab for a knife stab. Of course we aren't. We have risen above such punishment. The same applies to the death penalty.

Also with capital punishment there is always the danger of an innocent person being put to death. Our courts and prosecutors are far from perfect. We only have to look at recent history to see numerous instances of miscarriages of justice. It's not possible to pay a dead man or women compensation.

To be quite honest it's beyond my comprehension how anyone could possibly be in favour of capital punishment. There just aren't any worthwhile arguments. No doubt there are still a few flog 'em, hang 'em relics in existence in this country. Fortunately they are mostly now extinct.