Introduction
The concept of capital punishment is one that has successfully caused massive controversy in America throughout history. Also known as the death penalty, this is an extreme form of punishment that is placed upon a person who has committed a crime (in most cases, murder) that the government deems worthy of execution. In current times, the death penalty usually comes as a result of extreme cases of murder in which the court decides the convict deserves to die. Because of its intensity, the topic is one that many American citizens have debated about over time. Many oppose the idea because they believe it to be inhumane and unacceptable in many ways. However, as long as there have been those who are against it, there have also been
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As Morris J. Fish states in An Eye for an Eye: Proportionality as a Moral Principle of Punishment, the Bible specifically discusses this in the Old Testament in regards to different types of punishments. The author continues to inform the reader that in all of the Bible’s examples, they “require mirror punishments, that is, punishments which are meant to reflect the crime precisely, such as capital punishment for murder” (Fish 2008, 58). It is most likely because of the presence of this concept in the Bible that many people who consider themselves to be religious decide to support capital punishment. These people believe that if a person has chosen to take someone else’s life, then they have no right to continue living themselves. Why should someone who is guilty receive the privilege of a longer life when the innocent person they have killed does …show more content…
In my opinion, the execution of a killer is just as unacceptable as the murder that they committed. The first reason behind this opinion is that deterrence has nothing to do with the death penalty. If a person has a desire to kill, nothing is going to stop them, not even the possibility of their own death. It seems that recently, many of the large homicides seem to end in the killer committing suicide anyway, so at least at this point in time, deterrence does not exist in this scenario. Another reason to disagree with capital punishment is that it is sinful. Being a religious person, I believe it is completely wrong to kill anyone, even a criminal. Though some take the Bible’s ‘eye for an eye’ concept as literal, it is not meant to be interpreted in that way. Even without involving religion, to kill is simply immoral in every way. Just because someone did a terrible thing, does not mean that they should have that done upon them in return, especially in the case of the death penalty. The concept of capital punishment is basically fighting fire with fire, and that is not the way to
Various religions also have varied responses to capital punishment. Even a particular denomination or religious group may not have a unified stand regarding capital punishment. Religious sentiments do play a significant part in the views of people regarding capital punishment. The Bible is replete with various passages that may seem to support or condemn capital punishment. The Old Testament, particularly, is based upon a morality of “teeth against teeth” and “life for life.” The books of laws of the Old Testament actually prescribe stoning to death the persons who commit serious crimes against God and against the community. A number of biblical scholars have considered the part of the Ten Commandments that say “You shall not kill” as a prohibition against individual cases of murder (The Ryrie Study Bible, Exodus 20:13). In the first place, the Christian faith believes that humans are created in the image of God. As such, a serious crime against another person is also a crime against God. In the Old Testament, premeditated murder was sufficient reason for the death penalty (Numbers 35:31, 33). Moreover, in Genesis 9:6, it can be read that “whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed”. St. Thomas Aquinas also published his thoughts regarding capital
Religion plays a big role in some people 's lives and can influence their opinion on capital punishment. In the U.S. the two largest religions are Christianity and Judaism, within both of those religions some people are for capital punishment and some are against capital punishment. Several christian groups in the late 1970s formalized their religious and moral reasons against the imposition of the death penalty. “Among them was, capital punishment: violated the command by Jesus to employ the ethic of love, perpetuated the evil of retaliation, ignored the guilt that the society may have had in the causation of the crime, and prevented the possibility of any kind of rehabilitation of the criminal” (Flamehorse).
Capital punishment, or the death penalty are one of the more cruel punishments debating which form is used. Deciding whether it is fair or not is up to each individual, the person who is being punished took another persons life, sometime multiple people so isnt it fair? Thats a debatable question under certain circumstances. 59% of people say yes it is fair, 41% say it is not “some people are just truly evil and don't deserve to live anymore("Is the death penalty"). Only one out of every 300 murders result in the death penalty. most people say they will risk it and live for free for the rest of their lives. If the death penalty was used more
Capital Punishment is not a fair choice to do and it violates the human right to life. Everyone is born with the human right to life, even those who commit any type of crime; sentencing a person to death and executing them violates that right ( ). Just because a murderer killed someone, it does not mean their life should be taken away for punishment. It is generally accepted that people should not be punished for their actions unless they are guilty ( ). Whether the person is guilty is guilty or not they should not be given a deadly punishment. He inmates should just be locked up in prison and die from natural causes. When the prisoner becomes executed it is painful and cruel.
Capital punishment was written into God’s will for the Jewish nation in the Old Testament. The death penalty was a viable form of punishment for at least sixteen separate offenses. People
Christians say that Jesus taught them that they should try to change the offender to not seek revenge. The 6th commandment says people should not kill yet society would employ a paid executioner if the death penalty was re-introduced. There could be a mistake being made by an innocent person for a crime he or she did not commit, there is also evidence that this has happened in the past.
Many argue if capital punishment should or shouldn’t be a law at all. Many sick and dangerous people do deserve this punishment such as rapist, killers, and child abusers. Everyone has a different point of view on the subject and there are many cases that have different circumstances that may or may not make you feel that they deserve that punishment. If anybody became a victim of a heinous crime, they would want harm caused to whomever tried to cross them or anyone they loved. Capital punishment is not excessive punishment for those criminals that intentionally and knowingly take lives of others.
Some Christians don’t support the use of capital punishment because the 6th commandment forbids murder. The 10 commandments are very important and every christian has to adhere them therefore, they believe that it is wrong to use capital punishment because you are taking someone’s life/murdering them and you are not allowed to do that because all life is holy and belongs to God therefore,he should be the one to give or take life.Also, Jesus through out his life gave people a chance to reform themselves but capital punishment doesn’t give the offender a chance to learn from his/her mistake and christians should be following in Jesus’s footsteps. So, basically, capital punishment goes against christian beliefs.
There are many horrific crimes that are happening in the world and many people feel that a way to rid society of these said crimes would be through the use of capital punishment. In fact 31 out the 50 U.S. states have implemented the use of the death penalty. However, I think that the death penalty should not be allowed for the following reasons: My first reason is that it is expensive to keep people on death row and the funding comes out of the people's accounts through taxes. My second reason is that some people are convicted and determined guilty by the judge however they can actually be innocent, thus sending an innocent person to death. My last main reason is that even though it may be a part the executioners role to execute criminals, it may put mental pressure upon these people to take a life and no such individual should carry the burden of taking a life.
The death penalty causes too many deaths. Some of the people who get put on death row are innocent. Killing people should never be the answer, the people who get put on death row have families to. We should do away with the death penalty because no one deserves to die and too many innocent people are dying.
Almost all societies have dispensed with the principle of "an eye for an eye," and considered it a step toward more enlightened civilization. Christians who cite "an eye for an eye" in their defense of the death penalty are usually unaware of the strict criteria that God imposed before it could be used to take human life. The Old Testament also allowed the death penalty for crimes that today we consider less than misdemeanors -- clearly, the Old Testament law is archaic. Finally, Jesus himself argued against the principle of "an eye for an eye."
Capital punishment and murder have four elements in common. The first question people consider is if the killing is ever even rationalized. Most people look commandments in the Bible. Some people find it morally wrong to kill, because of their religion. There are also people that are religious, but they believe that killing is not morally wrong if it is for self-defense or fighting in the military. There are other individuals that believe the death penalty is murder even if the person being put on trial has harmed another human.
I don’t oppose or support the death penalty in society. The main reason I am torn between these to is because there are times when I feel that the death penalty is very necessary for the crime that has been committed. However there’s another side of me that struggles with the idea of killing another human being and in a way playing God. This is something I have thought about many times over the years during different public trial. Like in the case of Ted Bundy he was a serial killer who was executed in 1989 by the method of the electric chair. Based on his many statewide crimes of being a serial killer I feel like this was the best method for him but was this for society to decide. Next I’m going to talk about what the bible has to say about the death penalty which is part of the reason for why I am torn in deciding to support or oppose the death penalty.
Different religions have different beliefs concerning capital punishment. Person religions have. For instance, the Bible states salvation must be offered and the death penalty as valid and just, yet at precisely the same time murder is not allowed. Since not everyone is of exactly the same faith and each man can even interprets the identical religion otherwise, the motive of faith concerning the death penalty is rather uncertain. That's why governments should divide state and church. Personally, I believe that with a little tightening up of the justice system, to keep innocent people from being convicted, capital punishment is more valuable than life long incarceration. Hence in my opinion the supporters voice a more effective argument for
The United States justice system uses many methods of punishment on lawbreakers and criminals. These include jail time, community service, paroles, fines, and the most shocking, the death penalty. The death penalty, also referred to as capital punishment, was first introduced in the form of hanging hundreds of years ago when America was first established. Now, the most common way of execution proves to be death by lethal injection. For hundreds of years, people have argued over whether or not the general idea of capital punishment stands morally correct. Many have also debated if anyone holds the right to end another’s life. The death penalty, morally wrong and faulty, does not save lives but unnecessarily ruins and ends them.