Capital Punishment

For and against capital punishment

Introduction: Capital punishment is a controversial matter of the present time. It is a matter of debate whether capital punishment or death penalty should be allowed in modern societies. Many countries have already withdrawn death penalty from their legal systems. Still death penalty is considered an essential part of justice in many countries. There are many people for and against capital punishment. They have strong feelings on this matter.

Arguments against Capital Punishment: People against death penalty argue that death penalty is something irrevocable. We can devoid a man of his life but cannot give life to a man. So, it is not right to take away something that we cannot give life to a man. So, it is not right to take away something that we cannot return. Besides, a man can make mistakes very easily. Saying goes that “To err is human”. Hence, there is every possibility that a judge can make mistake in his judgment and can award death punishment to somebody innocent. It is also argued that no one is perfect. The judgment of a man also changes with the changes of perspective. In a certain perspective, a man may be convicted guilty when in another perspective he may not be judged so. Furthermore, everyone should have a second chance. By giving death sentence, somebody is deprived of his second chance. Such punishment does not allow anybody to correct his mistakes and do penance. It draws an end to every action for a person.

Arguments for Capital Punishment: On the other hand, there are some strong reasons for capital punishment. First, there some offenses that cross the border of forgiveness or endurance. Such crimes shake the foundation of our society and require the utmost punishment. Secondly, if heinous crimes like murder, rape arson, and genocide are allowed in our society and we show mercy to the perpetrators of such crimes by sparing them from death sentence, the wrongdoers will be encouraged to commit such crimes even more. Then crimes of those kinds will go out of control. Thirdly, forgiveness should only go to somebody who deserves it. Showing forgiveness to a person who does not have any respect for other people’s life or fights means encouraging a criminal and conniving in his action. At last, crime has a contagious pattern. In many cases the magnitude; of committing crime only increases for somebody. Such criminals are not correctable in any way. Death sentence is the only option for them.

Conclusion: considering the pros and cons of the death sentence, it seems to me that, there should be death sentence to certain crimes. Suppose a serial killer who murders one after another and at last is caught cannot get any sympathy. Similarly, a person who sets fire to a hospital full of innocent injured people is a threat for any society. People who are guilty of war crimes by committing rape, arson, and genocide have no right to forgiveness. Then are hardened people with no chance of rehabilitation. They are incorrigibles. Death sentence is the only suitable punishment for them.