The death penalty has always been a controversial issue. It seems that every scheduled execution has almost always called for people from both sides marching for their beliefs regardless of the degrees of the crime. It is during this time of media frenzy, we are asked to pause and think about our beliefs of using capital punishment.

An eye for an eye is a common human logic. Some calls it karma, some says, “you reap what you sow”, and while others simply agree with that the use of death penalty delivers justice. If a person has killed another human being or beings during a violent crime, he or she must suffer the same form of unnatural death. In doing so, the justice system might teach others not to commit similar crimes. Although this argument seems somehow logical, and simple, we need to stop and think if the capital punishment truly delivers justice.

Any murder is usually committed with violence, hatred or greed. However, will the use of another form of violence delivered by our judicial system truly solve our problem against violence? It is said that violence generates more violence, but not peace. How about those who have been wrongly convicted? This was not an unusual case prior to the maturity of the DNA analysis technology. What would you feel if you were the judge who sent the wrong person into the death chamber and later found out that you were wrong? Wouldn’t that make you a murderer as well?

In addition, instead of executing the murderer, would it be better for the society if the murderer serves his or her lifetime in prison reflecting upon the wrongful actions and hopefully makes him or herself a “productive” inmate for the remainder of his or her natural life? These are the questions we have to ask ourselves.

It is very understandable that families of the victims prefer to see proper and adequate punishment for the murderer. I would not disagree with the need for justice as one can only imagine the intense pain families of violent crimes suffer through. However, some argues that giving a person the death penalty is an easy way out. Why should the murderer be given a relatively fast death delivered by the capital punishment instead of spending his or her lifetime doing hard labor in prison? There are not right answers to this issue.

Please see the philosophy forum for the continuation of discussion on capital punishment…