Capital Punishment Debates
History
Long-standing controversies surround the morality of the death penalty as well as how it affects criminal behavior. Capital punishment is defined as the practice of putting guilty criminals to death for heinous offenses or capital offenses. The crimes and situations that constitute whether a felony is suitable for capital punishment are outlined in the statute and determined by Congress or any other state legislature. Unlike any other nation, Britain had an impact on the American adoption of capital punishment. The death penalty was a custom introduced to America by European settlers.
Modern State
Today in America, capital punishment is authorized in over twenty states by the U.S. military and the federal government. However, in recent years, states like Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, and New Hampshire have all abolished capital punishment legislation. It has been replaced with a life imprisonment sentence with no parole. Similarly, Courts in the nation’s capital and the state of Delaware have recently ruled against the death penalty, declaring it unconstitutional. States all around the nation continue to debate about its fairness, dependability, and implementation costs.
Arguments Against
Many people, individuals, or organizations have not been shy to speak publicly about their thoughts on the capital punishment sentence. In an article titled The Case Against the Death Penalty, the ACLU argues that “The American Civil Liberties Union believes the death penalty inherently violates the constitutional ban against cruel and unusual punishment and the guarantees of due process of law and equal protection under the law” (Bedau, 2012). They argue that capital punishment is an outrageous violation of civil freedoms and goes against the core principles of their democratic society.
The ACLU’s criticism of the death penalty incorporates fundamental concerns. For example, there are concerns about innocent individuals receiving the death penalty. Due to their innocence, approximately 156 persons have been rescued from the clutches of capital punishment since 1973 in over 25 different states (Bedau, 2012). In the country, there is at least one acquittal for every ten executions.
Position Statement
People should be deeply concerned about the human rights of people facing the capital punishment sentence. The death sentence is an infringement of human rights, and everyone should have a strong urge to oppose it. Regardless of the transgressions, everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.
Reasons in Support of the Position
There is no rehabilitative benefit of capital punishment. Rehabilitating convicts so that they can meaningfully make contributions to society is among the main objectives of a criminal sentence. Even people who are given life sentences could attend lessons and work while behind bars, despite the widespread belief that those who commit murder cannot be rehabilitated. Not only does the death sentence eliminate the possibility of rehabilitation, but it also appears to unjustly penalize those who, before the law, are unable to undergo genuine rehabilitation, such as people with mental disabilities.
Opposing Position Statement
Murderers have given up their right to life since they took another person’s life. A correct way to administer retribution is through the death penalty, which validates the moral indignation of both society and the victim’s family.
Reasons in Support of the Opposing Position
The crime and punishment are appropriate, and the proper form of retaliation is the death penalty, which reinforces the moral outrage felt by law-abiding individuals as a whole and the victim’s family. Criminal penalties are designed to reflect the gravity of the offenses most effectively. Because of this, there are light punishments for offenses against property, such as theft, and harsh penalties for crimes committed against individuals, such as kidnapping.
Reference
Bedau, A. H. (2012). The case against the death penalty. American Civil Liberties Union. Web.