FREE ESSAY ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

We must insure that innocent people, such as Marshall and Millgard, are never convicted or
sentenced to death for a crime that they did not commit. There have been many innocent
people convicted and executed for capital crimes, and many more that have never been
discovered. And here lies an obvious danger of capital punishment: when we execute an
innocent person; the real killer is still on the streets, ready to victimize someone
else. When an innocent person is arrested, he is often the driving reason behind further
investigation, and if he is executed, then the case remains closed forever. At least,
until someone else gets killed by the real perpetrator.
Imposing the death penalty is expensive and time consuming. A study by the NY State
Defenders Association showed that the cost of a capital trial alone is more than double
the cost of life imprisonment. In the late 80's, the Kansas legislature voted against
re-establishing the death penalty after it was informed that reintroduction would involve
a multi-million dollar first-year cost. Also, the Miami Herald reported that Florida,
with one of the nation's largest death rows, has estimated that the true cost of each
execution is approximately $3.2 million, or approximately six times the cost of a
life-imprisonment sentence.
There is also the issue of Capital Punishment being a deterrent. But does the death
penalty really deter crime? Supporters of Capital Punishment want you to believe it does,
but in actuality, it does not deter crime at all. For example, the US is the only Western
nation that still allows the death penalty, and we also have one of the highest crime
rates. During the 1980s, murder was actually more common in states that used the death
penalty. Also, in a nationwide survey of police chiefs and sheriffs, capital punishment
was ranked last as a way of reducing violent crime. Therefore, the idea behind trying to
deter crime using Capital Punishment is unsound. Do murderers make a pro/con list before
doing away with their victim?
There is also the aspect of religion playing a factor in the Capital Punishment debate.
Many people point to the passage in Leviticus of the Christian Bible, which states that
an eye for an eye is God's decree. However, Jesus Christ throws out these Old Testament
laws. This is what Jesus said: You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye and tooth
for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the
right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your
tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him
two miles. (Matthew 5:38-41 NIV) In the Bible, there is a scene when "the teachers of the
law" brought a prostitute before Jesus, and challenged: "In the Law Moses commanded us to
stone such women. Now what do you say?" (John 8:5 NIV). He answered them, If any one of
you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7 NIV) Christ
taught a doctrine of peace, love, and forgiveness; not revenge, retribution, and death.
If the people in this world, whether or not they believe in Jesus Christ and God,
practiced His teachings, life would be much more pleasant.
We must insure that innocent people, such as Marshall and Millgard, are never convicted
or sentenced to death for a crime that they did not commit. There have been many innocent
people convicted and executed for capital crimes, and many more that have never been
discovered. And here lies an obvious danger of capital punishment: when we execute an
innocent person; the real killer is still on the streets, ready to victimize someone
else. When an innocent person is arrested, he is often the driving reason behind further
investigation, and if he is executed, then the case remains closed forever. At least,
until someone else gets killed by the real perpetrator.
Imposing the death penalty is expensive and time consuming. A study by the NY State
Defenders Association showed that the cost of a capital trial alone is more than double
the cost of life imprisonment. In the late 80's, the Kansas legislature voted against
re-establishing the death penalty after it was informed that reintroduction would involve
a multi-million dollar first-year cost. Also, the Miami Herald reported that Florida,
with one of the nation's largest death rows, has estimated that the true cost of each
execution is approximately $3.2 million, or approximately six times the cost of a
life-imprisonment sentence.
There is also the issue of Capital Punishment being a deterrent. But does the death
penalty really deter crime? Supporters of Capital Punishment want you to believe it does,
but in actuality, it does not deter crime at all. For example, the US is the only Western
nation that still allows the death penalty, and we also have one of the highest crime
rates. During the 1980s, murder was actually more common in states that used the death
penalty. Also, in a nationwide survey of police chiefs and sheriffs, capital punishment
was ranked last as a way of reducing violent crime. Therefore, the idea behind trying to
deter crime using Capital Punishment is unsound. Do murderers make a pro/con list before
doing away with their victim?
There is also the aspect of religion playing a factor in the Capital Punishment debate.
Many people point to the passage in Leviticus of the Christian Bible, which states that
an eye for an eye is God's decree. However, Jesus Christ throws out these Old Testament
laws. This is what Jesus said: You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye and tooth
for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the
right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your
tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him
two miles. (Matthew 5:38-41 NIV) In the Bible, there is a scene when "the teachers of the
law" brought a prostitute before Jesus, and challenged: "In the Law Moses commanded us to
stone such women. Now what do you say?" (John 8:5 NIV). He answered them, If any one of
you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7 NIV) Christ
taught a doctrine of peace, love, and forgiveness; not revenge, retribution, and death.
If the people in this world, whether or not they believe in Jesus Christ and God,
practiced His teachings, life would be much more pleasant.