Yes

by Morgan Whittaker

Created on: September 20, 2011

Yes, Capital punishment should be reintroduced in the UK. Capital punishment is a vital player in the 'Should a punishment fit the crime, or be a deterrent?' argument that has never truly been resolved. If capital punishment were the sentence for murder, then that would mean that it fits the crime, in an eye for an eye sort of way. However, if capital punishment was made the sentence for every crime, then it would be acting as a deterrent. This would surely reduce crime rates, and probably the population at the same time, but would it be morally right? Probably not, in the opinions of many people. However, capital punishment, I believe, should be reintroduced, though not as a punishment for every crime. Just murder, and all crimes that involve killing people. Also, attempted murder should be included in this, though in the case of any crime that has a possible sentence of death, the jury should be convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that the suspect is the one who committed the crime, to prevent any mistakes.

As well as this, those closest to the victim should be allowed to choose whether the killer is executed or sent to jail, as some would prefer death.

One of the main advantages of an execution over a prison sentence is that justice is carried out; ill health cannot get them released, as occurred in the case of Ronnie Biggs in 2009 and Abdulbaset Al-Megrahi in the same year. Both were released on compassionate grounds, and both are still alive. Two years later. TWO YEARS! Who knows how much longer they will survive. The people they killed, or were willing to kill in Ronnie Biggs' case, would have given anything for an extra two years.

If the two of them had been executed straight after they committed the crimes, there would be no need to release them from their sentence. This is purely rubbing salt into the wounds of the victims of these two men's crimes. Al-Megrahi, for instance, had served 21 years. For 270 murders. That equates to less than a year in prison for every ten murders, or about a month per death. If that's how the legal system works now, there are a few people I need to quickly sort out. I reckon I can spare 30 days in jail for that guy who nicked my bag ten years ago.

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