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Of course it isn't. Just take a look at history. Take a look at the world. Is there a lowering of crime in the places where capital punishment is used? No. Simple as that.

Let's face it, there are two reasons that the death penalty is used. One is a kind of social revenge against transgressors of whatever law and the other is sheer laziness because it's far cheaper to kill someone than it is to keep them in jail and make some sort of attempt to rehabilitate them so that they can be returned as "useful" members of society.

I can almost understand the need for revenge. Hey, if someone caused harm to one of my loved ones, I'd be out for their blood. Who wouldn't? But surely this is why we have systems of judgement with people who can put themselves above the base needs for hitting back.

I don't believe there is a proper way to "deter" crime. I think that crime needs to be treated at its source: find out what's causing it. A lot of assault and robbery crimes where I live would easily be stopped by legalising some street drugs and making them available to users. While I neither advocate nor use drugs myself, it seems obvious to me that the illegality and hardship in finding and buying drugs of dependence is going to cause nothing but trouble for those who need them to function.

Crimes of violence often come about because of the use of that popular social drug, alcohol. Heaven forbid that I might suggest curtailing the use of that particular form of recreation, but a better understanding of its use, overuse and patterns of addiction might not go astray. I come from a family of alcoholics and its association with depression and low self esteem seems clear to me.

State Sanctioned Murder, otherwise known as the death penalty is not now and never has been a deterrent to crime. It's just a convenient way of removing people that society is uncomfortable having around and doesn't want to help.

Learn more about this author, Amanda Le Bas De Plumetot.
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