Death Penalty For Murder example essay topic

Nineteenth century philosopher John Stuart Milt wrote: "Is it unreasonable to think that taking the life of a man, who has taken that of another is to show want of regard for human life? On the contrary, we show... our regard for it, by the adoption of a rule that he who violates that right in another forfeits it for himself and that while no other crime that he can commit deprives himself of his right to live, this shall". For perpetrators of a capital crime, the only lawful response can be a sentence of capital punishment. There are many who oppose the death penalty, most notably, former Illinois Governor Ryan, because the legal system which imposes these sentences is flawed. If the flaws in the legal system could be eliminated, and a scientifically objective guilty verdict rendered in a case of murder, ie. DNA evidence, then the death penalty would be the only appropriate response.

There have been many clich " ed arguments against the death penalty. For one, you cannot fight fire with fire; to combat violence with "violence" is futile. This is a simple-minded approach to a complex issue. Law enforcement and punishment are to crime, as water is to fire. When a building becomes a raging inferno, firefighters spray water on the flames with such force that the fire has no choice but to succumb; hence, the fire is extinguished. A person who intentionally takes the life of another is like a fire.

Just as firefighters use water to extinguish flames, the judicial system uses the death penalty to eliminate murderers. Abolitionists in the United States make reference to a popular argument: "why does a society execute murderers to show that killing is wrong?" This argument holds little weight because it equates execution to murder. The word 'murder' as defined by most dictionaries, is "the intentional UNLAWFUL killing of a human being by another". (Oxford 586) Logically, the word murder cannot be used to describe execution since the death penalty is law in many jurisdictions in the United States. Is there a contradiction taking place when a police officer speeds after a speeding motorist to issue a speeding ticket? Just because two actions share similar physicalities, it does not make them morally identical; the two parties involved are acting with different intent.

And intention is what separates murder from manslaughter, a crime that does not call for the death penalty. The last good argument against the death penalty, based on reason and fact, is that executing the murderer will not bring back their victim. This argument is without refutation. However, the alternative to the death penalty is life imprisonment.

Do those who are opposed to the death penalty believe that incarceration is any more capable of such a miracle? Returning life to the dead? The purpose of capital punishment is not to raise those who have perished, and it never was. Justice is not about bringing the victim back, nor is it about revenge as some would claim it to be. Justice is about consequences, the enforcement of personal accountability and responsibility for one's actions.

Society cannot rightfully expect anyone to take responsibility for their own actions if the consequences are not enforced to their full extent. Financial factors must also be taken into account when deciding the appropriate punishment for murder. Is it financially feasible to spend approximately $50,000 a year, to house one maximum security inmate? The cost of an execution is far less than the cost of incarcerating a person for fifteen years to life. Mathematics, not morality, determines capital punishment to be more feasible than the alternative, life imprisonment.

Former California Governor Pat Brown stated that "the most glaring weakness is that no matter how efficient and fair the death penalty may seem in theory, in actual practice it is primarily inflicted upon the weak, the poor, the ignorant and against racial minorities". (qty in Ryan) The legal system is based upon laws written and executed by man, and man is fallible. Illinois Governor Ryan is perhaps America's greatest weapon used in the fight against capital punishment. "Our capital system is haunted by the demon of error- error in determining guilt, and error in determining who among the guilty deserves to die". (Ryan) "Because of these reasons Governor Ryan commuted the sentences of all 167 Illinois death row inmates". (Ryan) Science has progressed tenfold in a mere decade; the technology that exists today in the fields of forensics is capable of proving guilt or innocence beyond doubt. If DNA evidence was made mandatory to impose a death sentence, many in the most vocally opposed group, the Christians, could become capital punishments strongest advocator's.

To state their case, Christians argue that only God has the right to take a human life and that The Bible, the word of God himself, supports this claim. However, nowhere in the scripture is this thesis confirmed. "He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death". (The Holy Bible "Exodus" 21: 12) This is one of numerous passages which clearly support the death penalty. St. Paul in his hearing before Festus stated: "For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying". (The Holy Bible "Acts" 25: 11) In this excerpt, St. Paul confirms the authority of the state to justly execute those who have violated certain crimes.

Moreover, the Bible not only condones the death penalty for murder, but for rape, kidnapping, disobedience to parents, and a colourful assortment of other, less harsh crimes. Life is more than just the right of every human being; life is a privilege and a responsibility. When a privilege is abused, it is revoked. In conclusion, the word justice, is derived from 'just': "morally right or fair". (Oxford Dictionary 482) Justice is served only by the penalty of death, when an individual has been scientifically proven responsible for murder, and has been fairly tried and found guilty by a judge or jury of their peers.

Bibliography

Thompson, Della, ed. Oxford Dictionary of Current English. New York: Oxford University, 1998.
Exodus". 54. "Acts". 754. The Holy Bible. New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Ryan, Former Governor of Illinois. Law Day Speech. "The Death Penalty" 12 January 2003.
ABC 7 Chicago News. 8 March 2003.
Exodus". 54. "Acts". 754. The Holy Bible. New King James Version. Law Day Speech. ABC 7 Chicago News. 8 March 2003.