Crime and Punishment ; Death Penalty

Personally i feel that death penalty is deterrent not murder and i believe i am not alone. According to a survey done by Harris Interactive (2004 Jan), more than 2/3 of Americans actually support death penalties to be carried out in their country. Since human rights have been introduced and emphasised to the public, abolishing of the death penalty has been pushed for. Especially in democratic countries such as USA, UK and Europe where everyone is supposed to "have a say".

The capital punishment is deemed as not the perfect solution. As quoted " two wrongs do not get a right". Taking the example of China, it has executed at least 3400 people in 2006. This was a alarming figure and had led to much disputes. People had argued that it was unfair punishment as most people who got executed were people who could not afford lawyers or get anyone to stand as witness. Executing them creates the possibilty of executing someone who is magligned, in other words, innocent. Which contradicts the fundamental purpose of the law which is to bring justice. Also that immediately violates the basic human rights which is the right to life and a right not to be punished in a cruel way.

Nonetheless to counter the argument, think. Would you prefer to execute murderers even though there might be no deterrent effect or not to execute any murderers and allow them killing a bigger group of innocent victims? Any rationale being will choose the former, which is to execute the murderers. Indeed there might be a slight possibility that the innocent might get executed but isn't it better than to let one escape and continue with his wrong doings and harming more people in the process? Thus it is a risk and sacrifice that must be taken in view of the public's interest.

Rehabilation and life imprisonment has been suggested as an better alternative of death penalty. As criminals might not be sure of what they are doing at that point of time and some feel that life imprisonment is worse than death penalty actually. These might be true to a certain extent but whether if life imprisonment is worse is not for us to decide. Taking into consideration the example of USA, there is a yearly average of 15000 murders, the fact that 1000 executions is done in 30+ years is proof that capital punishment is reserved for the worst of the worst lot. What is there to be worry about then?

All in all, i would not deny that criminals who commited crimes such as drug trafficking, 1st degree murder, treason should be executed. There is one takeaway from the difference in statistics in China and USA and i believe it is very much due to the country's own jury system. Therefore, China cannot be used as a basis for argument to prove that death penalty is more of a murder than deterrent. Thinking about it, if i were a murderer, i would really think twice in doing something that would make me lose my life, won't you?