Capital punishment refers to the legal process that subjects criminals to the death penalty as provided by the state laws. In this case, the jury sentences the criminal to death by the process of killing known as execution. Capital offences trigger the state to subject individuals to the death penalty.
Some of the common capital offences include crimes against the state, homicide and crimes against humanity. When intelligent individuals aggravate the crime incidences such as murder, felony or contract killing, the death penalty is sought (Kerby 36). After one is sentenced to the death penalty, there are multiple methods of execution based on the jurisdiction. Although the form of execution has continuously changed with time, the common form is lethal injection.
Over time, capital punishment has been a contentious issue with respect to social issues in the United States. Although the main reason for reaffirmation of the practice has been to act as a deterrent to capital offenders, people have different perceptions about the same issue.
Some of the reasons that drive people to oppose the death sentence include value for human life, lack of deterrence, unfairness, chances of errors, and Christian beliefs. These reasons are valid and acceptable to some degree, but they cannot be the main reasons for the need to abolish the death penalty (Wolf 69). This subject is attributed to the benefits that exist when capital punishment is upheld.
The death penalty has been opposed because it is considered barbaric, useless and a practice of the past. Most critics argue that such practices should not be propagated to the civilized society at the time. One main reason for such argument is that the death penalty is a cruel and strange punishment contradicting the respect for human rights. Through the Christian teachings, most people have been influenced to consider the death penalty as illogical and unethical practice.
base their argument on the insensibility of vengeance acquired through execution of murderers. In this case, they feel that executing an individual would not bring back the lost life. Consequently, the practice of the death penalty is useless and should be abolished. Nevertheless, the variation in religion necessitates the consideration of the death penalty. This issue is critical in the society since most people may exploit the death consideration of other individuals to murder people for personal interests.
The frequency of murder and cruelty of humans has demanded rules and policies that govern the deeds of people. In this regard, the death penalty has been considered to ensure that the society is in order. At the same time, the death penalty is used to ensure that people do not use their power or capacities to defend themselves, but they should adopt legal procedures. This implies that the death penalty is the ideal and moral punishment that should be used to deter individuals who murder other people (Kerby 12).
Furthermore, it is morally wrong to let a murderer live when already an innocent person has been killed. Under such a scenario, the death penalty serves as the ultimate penalty for murderers as long as justice and morality is to be upheld. Consequently, it implies that the death penalty is essential to prevent the chaotic state of nature expected from humanity. In addition, it offers sufficient vengeance against individuals who have condemned the law.
Another main reason for the reaffirmation of the capital punishment is to provide justice to the victims. The killing of convicted murderers gratifies the necessity for vengeance for most people. Since some crimes are regarded as heinous, execution of perpetrators offers a sensible response.
Although Christians stipulate the need for forgiveness or mercy, their view is usually disregarded to offer vengeance in such circumstances. Nonetheless, the bible portrays a sense of need for the capital punishment through the practices of the Hebrews. Therefore, it is critical to uphold capital punishment to offer justice for all people.
The subjection of capital offenders to the death penalty acts as a form of deterrence to other potential individuals. Although there is no confirmed correlation between the two concepts, most people appreciate its intuitive validity in maintaining the respect for human life and nurturing human value in the mindset of people. It is indicated by statistics that most countries upholding the death penalty have reduced cases of murder.
The information given to people is that they should not commit crimes since the ultimate punishment is death. Meanwhile, the state kills the murderers to depict that human life has the greatest value. Moreover, it indicates that there is no adequate value to pay for taking someone else life other than death. For this reason, death penalty is the ultimate penalty for the convicted individuals (FCNL 28).
The cost of maintenance of the convicted individuals is also one of the reasons that necessitate the death penalty. Expenses incurred after individuals are convicted of crimes such as murder in prison are unnecessary for the state. Some of the costs involve maintenance of individuals and protection of other counterparts in the prison. In this case, such criminals offer threats to the correctional officers as well as other prisoners.
Therefore, once an individual is found guilty of a capital offense, one should be executed and buried, which in turn reduce the expenses of extra maintenance. In addition, the state reduces the costs of meeting multiple appeals by eradicating individuals convicted of murder from the society (Kerby 48).
The need for public safety gives a valid reason as to the need for the death penalty. After a convicted murderer is executed and buried, there is no possibility of future reoccurrence of the same incident perpetrated by the same individual (Young 82). For this reason, execution, which results in the elimination of chances that the individual might break out of jail and harm other people, clearly portrays the need for capital punishment.
At the same time, people with attachment of the victims of murder may never assimilate with the released individuals in their lifetimes. In such circumstances, the affected individuals may be triggered to avenge for their lost ones since no punitive penalty is offered by the state. On the other hand, most murderers have limited chances of being rehabilitated with the conditions exposed to them in prisons.
The reaffirmation of the death penalty is also attributed to the teachings portrayed by most religions. Initially, the bible portrays that the death penalty is essential for horrendous crimes such as sorcery, homosexuality, murder and lack of women virginity during marriage. In this case, such crimes demanded the individuals to be burnt or stoned to death.
Such teachings depict that the death penalty is necessary to maintain order in a society. Although the evolution of Christianity with time has changed the whole concept of the initial teachings, it is essential for the state to uphold practices that are considered just and moral.
On the other hand, the Muslim teachings also deem the necessity of the death penalty for serious offenders. The common crime that demands the death penalty with Islam is the practice of homosexuality (Kerby 56). Since the construction of legal practices borrows some ideas from the religious teachings, it implies that it is essential to adopt the death penalty to counter heinous crimes. Consequently, the society will be orderly maintained with the presence of the death penalty.
In conclusion, the death penalty is necessary in the modern society that is associated with a significant amount of evils. The practices and cultures of people have changed tremendously, which necessitate punitive measures to restore the society to its norm. In this case, crimes that affect the welfare of humans will be curbed effectively. At the same time, it is essential to consider that adoption of rules that prevent people from engaging in certain activities divert their attention to other productive activities (Young 45).
Through this practice, individuals who do not suit the needs of the community are also eradicated leading to the creation of a sober generation. As a result, people will change with time and learn the appropriate ways to adopt in the event of adversity rather than using their power. This will boost the psychological and emotional stability of citizens with the state. Consequently, the issues addressed by the presence of the death penalty depict its importance to the society.
Works Cited
FCNL. “FCNL: Federal death penalty.” FCNL. N.p., n.d. Web.
Kerby, J. “Facts about deterrence and the death penalty.” Capital Punishment. N.p., n.d. Web.
Wolf, Alice. “Letter to constituents concerning her vote as a state representative for Mass. opposing the death penalty.” Death Penalty. N.p., n.d. Web.
Young, R. “Religious Orientation, Race and Support for the Death Penalty.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 31.2 (1992): 76-87. Web.