Should The Death Penalty Exist?
Does death justify the loss of a loved one? The death penalty has been around for decades, raising questions and resulting in the issue of whether it is socially acceptable or morally incorrect. Instinctively we perceive death with horror, particularly the thought of killing someone else. But as human beings we also have a barbarian instinct that wants revenge when someone has hurt us deeply. Generally people who have suffered a tragedy, in which a loved one has been taken from them, would tend to support the death penalty. While those who have never experienced such an ordeal may see things with a different perspective and debate that a criminal’s life is a human life nevertheless. Arguments of why the death penalty should exist include deterrence of other crimes, retribution and justice; as well as the safety of knowing a murderer is no longer going around potentially committing more crimes nor promoting more violence in jail where they in some cases live rather comfortably.
Nowadays we are presumably used to hearing all kinds of tragedies from all over the world that one may not grasp the gravity of all the deaths and murders that goes on in our everyday life. But once you hear more details about a certain case, you may start feeling all sorts of emotions; from empathy towards the victim’s family, to anger, fear, and frustration as you wonder who could possible commit such ruthless, inhumane crimes. When you hear that innocent child, a loving mother or someone you can relate to was the victim of an unfortunate tragedy, you come to the realization that it could’ve been someone you know and care about in their place. Everyone wants to know what happens to the criminal, expecting that they will be held responsible for their offenses and brought to justice. The problem is that there may be times when there is a lack of evidence. As a result the criminal’s lawyer then has a chance to delay the hearing and the criminal then gets to spend years on death row living in
Nowadays we are presumably used to hearing all kinds of tragedies from all over the world that one may not grasp the gravity of all the deaths and murders that goes on in our everyday life. But once you hear more details about a certain case, you may start feeling all sorts of emotions; from empathy towards the victim’s family, to anger, fear, and frustration as you wonder who could possible commit such ruthless, inhumane crimes. When you hear that innocent child, a loving mother or someone you can relate to was the victim of an unfortunate tragedy, you come to the realization that it could’ve been someone you know and care about in their place. Everyone wants to know what happens to the criminal, expecting that they will be held responsible for their offenses and brought to justice. The problem is that there may be times when there is a lack of evidence. As a result the criminal’s lawyer then has a chance to delay the hearing and the criminal then gets to spend years on death row living in
Cited: Budziszewski, J. "Search First Things." Article. N.p., Aug.-Sept. 2004. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. . Bush, George W. A Charge to Keep. New York: Morrow, 1999. Print. "Crimes Punishable by the Death Penalty." Death Penalty Information Center. Death Penalty Information Center, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. . "Deterrence (In Support of the Death Penalty)." Deterrence (In Support of the Death Penalty). The Death Penalty Curriculum, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. . "Innocence: List of Those Freed From Death Row." Death Penalty Information Center. Death Penalty Information Center, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. . Stewart, Steven D. "Message from the Prosecuting Attorney." Message from the Prosecuting Attorney. Office of the Clark Country Prosecuting Attorney, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. .