情定愛琴海

         Should capital punishment be allowed? This kind of argument has already been debated for a long time. Even today, it is discussed by each government without stopping forever. Actually, either the death penalty or another punishment such as imprisonment for a definite term will always exist in each country only for the safety of society. In the generation of globalization, crimes, which happened in the corner of the world, emerge in an endless stream, especially international criminal has gradually increased in the twenty-first century. However, capital punishment could be the only preference for criminal punishment when other punishments are going to be useless. At the same time, death penalty can assist the government to manage country. The author whose name is Hutchison said that the life could be a wonderful thing if the capital punishment stays in balance and the death penalty can arouse people from their moral. However, although some people think that capital punishment should be abolished, it should not be abolished because of human rights, equality, and crime prevention.

        First of all, some people believe that capital punishment should not be allowed because nobody can take someone else’s life even though capital punishment is the law. According to Polk-Bauman (2004), “The Universal Declaration further clarifies that goal in its article 3, stating that ‘everyone has the right to life’” (p. 5). Some people still insist on the death penalty is not a moral punishment, but they rarely know that the capital punishment actually also maintains the victim’s right. If a judge over cares about murderer’s rights, what does they say about the life of the murdered? Could it be said that victims should not have their right or they are not human? It is a selfish behavior. Besides, the crime worsens the social order and the national economy when serious crimes occur and nobody stops them with death penalty. For example, about ten years ago, there was a great criminal case which happened in Taiwan. Although the killer was not a murderer, he violated the law which the case was very serious. He did not only kidnap a girl whose mother is a famous and popular actress in Taiwan but also kill the girl. In addition, he also raped some women in Taipei. After this event, he was sued and never feels regretful. At the same time, government spent much time on it in order to catch him to the jail. Based on this reason, the government was wasting taxpayer’s money. If people still forgive him, does the persuasion exist in front of the law? As regards the killer’s personal human rights, is it worth caring? On the basis of the reason, I strongly believe that this kind of people exactly must be executed by judge.

        Second, the capital punishment should be allowed because the death penalty makes it equal between a murderer and a victim. Why does a murderer only take victim’s life and the government cannot take a murderer’s life? According to Andre, C. and Velasquez, M. said that the death penalty, which is a device, maintains and protects the fairness for people in front of the law and takes away the rights for those who hurt someone else intentionally. For instance, if a murderer kills someone else, it means the murderer has already taken off the victim’s life. In other words, murderers have to return the life to the victim with a special way such as the capital punishment. However, it is not only fair for victim, but also for victim’s family. Sometimes killer never think about what result was brought by their murderer of a family member. Family member may be devastated in their emotions or their spirits. Death penalty only gives justice back to the folks. That is to say that it could not operate in a side. As a matter of fact, it is malice aforethought for those who are sentenced to death. Therefore, we should not easily forgive them in case they destroy social order or national economics.

        Last, another reason that the capital punishment should exist is because the death penalty is a deterrent to crime.

According to Pataki states:

The death penalty is a necessary tool to fight and deter crime. Capital punishment deters crime by causing would-be murderers to fear arrest and conviction and by preventing convicted murderers from killing again. In recent years, violent crime in New York has dropped dramatically, due in part to the reinstitution of the death penalty. (p. 1).

As we see here, capital punishment exactly avoid crime happening because death penalty could let people know if they will be a murdered, they are not only sent to jail by police but executed by the judge. In addition, capital punishment can educate citizens to comply with the law before they intend to commit a crime. In contrast, some criminal who are released from prison may commit a crime again even destroy the social order. In other words, murderers, generally, rarely fear for jail. Therefore, it is invalid for this kind of people with other punishments. That is to say that the death penalty is the most effective method to judge criminals. However, whoever you are, everyone have to be equal in front of the law, or how does the government mange and control the country if criminal will be savage.

        To sum up, capital punishment, which helps control crime, is based on human rights, equality, and crime prevention. A couple of centuries ago, the death penalty appeared in order to prevent crime. Whether in each dynasty or in western countries, the existence of capital punishment is necessary for government and people to follow the rules. There is no difference between now and ancient generation. In fact, capital punishment is essential requirement although the death penalty is not humanity in someone’s opinion. Yet the death penalty does not have to be necessary unless people who cannot be forgiven by the law create a crime. On the other hand, people’s requirement have been rising due to the country has developed, and globalization is current tendency. Therefore, increasing crime rate naturally is more important and thinking how to solve the issue is the top priority things. Of course, the death penalty is the most important to deter and prevent crime.

Reference

Hutchison, F. (2004, August 5). The moral law, justice, and capital punishment. Renewamerica.us. Retrieved April 17, 2008,

from http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/hutchison/040805

Polk-Bauman, B. (2004, Dec). Where the world stands. UN chronicle. Retrieved April 8, 2008,

        from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1309/is_4_41/ai_n13803091

Andre, C. and Velasquez, M. Capital punishment: Our duty or our doom? Santa Clara University.

Retrieved April 8, 2008, from http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v1n3/capital.html

Pataki, G. B. Does capital punishment deter crime? Bookrays.com. Retrieved April 8, 2008,

from http://www.bookrags.com/researchtopics/does-capital-punishment-deter-crime/02.html