by Sebastian Talon

Created on: October 03, 2007

The Death Penalty. It is obviously an idea that many find distasteful. And while I can understand that attitude, I can not find it in myself to think that it is an unjust punishment for some crimes. Of course, I my childhood in country that beheads murderers with a sword may color my perceptions, somewhat. Then again, maybe not.

I hear many people who say that "Two wrongs do not make a right," when talking about the Death Penalty. As if taking the life of a murderer is a bad thing. I may be willing to hear this argument, and give it some weight, from a family that has lost a member to a murderer, but I will NEVER hear it from one who hasn't. At least those who have been touched by this crime know what it feels like to have a loved one stolen from them by an uncaring bastard. The others have no idea what they are talking about.

To tell the truth, I believe that the use of the death penalty as a punishment should be expanded, not abandoned. There are more crimes worthy of such a penalty, and all of them are committed on a daily basis.

Let me try to explain why I feel this way.

My first argument is a simple one. Our country has sentenced many murderers to the death penalty, and still there are those who will commit this crime without a second thought. I know there are some who would use that statement as an argument for getting rid of the death penalty. They would say that if it's not a deterrent, then why use it?

As for myself, if I could think of a penalty worse than death, I would campaign for the world to adopt it. Because if the death penalty does not deter some from committing the crime of murder, then the removal of that penalty would only encourage even more to believe that they, too, can commit such a crime. And I can't believe that society would like the resulting murder rate from that option.

The trick is finding a penalty that will discourage those who see nothing wrong with killing a fellow human being. And life in prison is not the answer. There are too many things wrong with that solution. Only the least of which is that society is then forced to feed, clothe and shelter someone who has no concept of the value of human life. Honest people are forced to pay taxes to support those who would kill them if they had a chance to do so. Is this just? I think not.

Someone who has been proven to have committed the crime of murder does not deserve to live. Why should that murderer NOT pay for his crime with his life? How does locking him away and caring for him for the rest of his miserable life constitute justice?

Oh sure, prisons are not the nicest of places. And that's as it should be. Prison should not be a vacation. It's supposed to be punishment. And I say, the worse that punishment is, the better. Otherwise, more and more people are tempted to go there instead of trying to avoid it.

But, locking someone away behind bars for life will never be a deterrent to murder; no matter what condition the prisons are in. I myself would never think of killing a fellow man in cold blood, but even I may be tempted, in the right circumstances, if the worst I had to look forward to was a prison cell. And believe me, if I would consider the option, there are many more who not even consider that consequence as a deterrent.

So whether or not the death penalty is just, or unjust, it is necessary. And a worse punishment, if one could be thought of, would be even better.

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