Kill the Death Penalty and Go Medieval

The death penalty should be killed - and replaced with medieval punishment techniques.

States that still have the death penalty option available have, for the most part, tried to make state-sponsored death painless - in large part so they don't run afoul with the refined sensibilities of today's society. As a result, electric chairs have mostly been replaced by lethal injection and gas. In truth, however, neither is painless. In fact, both are quite painful ways to die - as is obvious to anyone who has borne witness to either procedure.

Some argue that the executed have it coming - that it's an eye for an eye. They killed someone, so they, in return, should be killed, death penalty advocates say. These same people argue that the death penalty is a deterrent and saves countless tax payer dollars.

None of those arguments hold water. Human life is sacred - and should be held sacred - even the lives of those who have killed others. Nobody deserves to be murdered - not even murderers. Murderers do deserve punishment, but not the death penalty.

The deterrent myth. Death penalty advocates have long argued that the death penalty deters others from committing similar crimes. Time has proven this to be false. When shown the studies and statistics, some will say that at the very least, it deters those who have been put to death. In truth, the executed often become martyrs to others of their ilk. Instead of deterring, their deaths inspire others to follow.

The cost savings myth. Death penalty proponents also argue that putting someone to death saves taxpayer dollars. They point to the seemingly endless appeals, as well as the cost of feeding and housing murderers for the rest of their lives and claim it's cheaper to carry out the death penalty. This runs afoul with reality on two counts: 1) it's actually more expensive to carry out a state-sponsored execution than to keep a criminal alive; and 2) arguing cost savings is equal to saying human life is only worth a predetermined dollar amount.

The solution. Since the death penalty is not a deterrent, the replacement punishment must be. Medieval punishment techniques provide viable alternatives. These death penalty replacement punishments would be, as they were in the past, ghastly torture. Think stretchers. Think thumbscrews. Think pain. Death does not deter, but pain does. All life, by either Divine or evolutionary programming, avoids pain at all costs.

Replacing the death penalty with medieval punishment techniques maintains the sanctity of human life, saves money and provides a deterrent to others. It is the best method of severely punishing the worst offenders.