Capital Punishment, Fuel to the Fire

The practice and enforcement of capital punishment, otherwise known as execution is an old, outdated system that needs no longer to be enforced. Though, over the years the technique and process of executions has changed significantly and are arguably more humane than ever, this does not excuse the reality and consequences of it. The most common argument in favor of execution is that it deters murder. The truth of the matter is that there have been no studies that even suggest such a theory, after Canada abolished the death penalty in the 1960's the murder rate dropped. In the United States in 2007, the average murder rate for states with the death penalty was 5.5, while states without the death penalty, the average murder rate was 3.1 (deathpenaltyinfo.org). Fear of prosecution and execution is not enough to make a willing person not commit a violent crime. If that were true there would be very little crime in the world today.

Another troubling issue is that there have been inmates that have been executed and later were discovered to be completely innocent. If the death penalty ultimately exists to protect the people, no government should ever take the risk that someone they are going to execute could be innocent, it is completely irresponsible behavior. The reality that we are now in the 21^st century and there are democratic governments that still have the right to kill their own people is very worrying.

Nearly all persons who are about to or are in the process of committing a crime do not use rational thinking in that moment and do not consider the possible consequences of their actions, thus ruling out the possibility of deterring the impending actions of that individual. If the person committing a crime intends on not being caught, the likelihood of ending the life of a possible witness increases in hopes of sparing ones self from the death penalty.

There are many arguments on both sides of the fence that consistently contradict each other with values and morals instead of hard facts. What has shown to be factual is the lack of conclusive evidence on the belief that execution prevents murders from being committed, meaning it does not act as a deterrent. That actuality alone should be enough for a responsible government and its people to completely put an end to this ancient ritual. The risk of botched and wrongful executions is not a gamble that should ever be taken.