In the current world capital punishment has lost its value unlike in old days. Most civilized countries used to practice capital punishment to individuals who were convicted with crimes. As a result of public opinion, this practice is wearing out due to human rights an individual has in the society. Only a few of countries still use the form of punishment to individuals who go against the law. As a result of development, most countries have abandoned capital punishment as a way of providing punishment to criminals. This essay will look at arguments for and against capital punishment as used in different situations, (CNN.com, 2001).
Arguments for
History shows that capital punishment was there in 8th century B.C. thus it is not something that just came the other day. Capital punishment is an important tool in criminal justice. Research shows that capital punishment has the ability to reduce criminal level. Statistics shows that capital punishment deters criminals thus reducing the number of criminal activities in any given society. When a criminal is sentenced with capital punishment it is automatic that actions that were to be conducted by the criminal will be invalid. With capital punishment, most individuals develop self preservation something that reduces criminal activities. Human beings wish to stay alive and that will prevent them from criminal activities, (Amnesty International, 2003).
Capital punishment should be given to criminals so as to reduce the overcrowding of problems that affect the society. A family that has a rapist or killer always lives with frustrations and fear because they do not know what will happen to them next. Given capital punishment, the family will be relieved from such issues hence put their effort in the development. Instead of building jails to handle murders and rapists, capital punishment should be given to criminals. Society should not suffer from taxes to feed and shelter criminals. The best way is to give capital punishment to those who are found guilty of serious criminal activities. In order to have a society that has no fears, capital punishment should be given to the criminals. It is not the wish of any single person to place such punishment to another person but it is through maintaining a healthy society capital punishment is given, (CNN.com, 2001).
Arguments against
Some people are against capital punishment due to many reasons. No man has the right or authority over someone else live. There is no one who has the power to kill irrespective of the crime committed. God is the Supreme Being and is against killing thus criminals should not be killed rather they should be punished in another way. Apart from that capital punishment may make innocent people suffer for crimes they never committed. Some individuals have suffered for intending to commit crimes or for crimes that were committed by other people. Criminals should not be killed rather they should be kept to jail regardless of their mistakes. To some extent, the prosecution process may be wrong thus the punishment given resulting to be invalid, (Amnesty International, 2003).
Any other form of punishment may be given and not capital punishment simply because the only person who understands and can explain what happened is the deceased and the person who committed the crime. So as not to affect the life of the family of the criminal, capital punishment should not be given, (CNN.com, 2001).
Work Cited
Amnesty International. “The Death Penalty.” The Death Penalty. 22 Oct. 2003. Retrieved from, http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty_index_eng, July 21, 2012
CNN.com. “Timothy McVeigh Dead”. 11 June 2001. Retrieved from, http://www.cnn.com/2001/LAW/06/11/mcveigh.01/index.html, July 21, 2012
