|
I am against the death penalty in all instances for many reasons, including the one cited by Kevin. Additionally, I don't think it's up to humans to decide when other living, breathing, healthy humans should die. In doing so, I think we violate the same basic human rights that the murderer violated in the first place. Further, I think our penal system serves two purposes, the first being rehabilitation (if possible) and the second being keeping the general society safe from people who are dangerous. I don't really see it useful as a form of "punishment". The death penalty has been shown NOT to deter crime, so it is not useful in that regard. If someone did see the penal system as a means of punishment, then I would argue that I believe that being in isolation in prison for decades is far more punishing than giving the easy out of death. Perhaps that's because I have no fear of death. I have fear of a long, slow, suffering leading to death, but no fear of actually being dead. From a religious viewpoint, if the person has remorse in their heart, then God would forgive them and they'd end up in heaven earlier. If they didn't, they'd be going to Hell and what's a few decades on earth in isolation in a prison compared to eternity in Hell? Just a mere flash of time, relatively. And, if even one innocent person is killed, what are the ramifications for the people responsible for that murder? For those who argue that it's too expensive to house criminals for life in that manner, the reality is that it's even more expensive for those on death row because of the appeals, etc. Some argue there should not be appeals allowed, but that increases the risk of innocents being killed. I'd rather see us err on the side of caution in that regard.
I realize that's not a popular viewpoint and I realize that it also would conflict with believing that war is ever ok. And, I can honestly say that I struggle with that one a lot. It seems there are times that there is no other way to stop someone like Hitler from harming more and more people so it does seem to outweigh the consequences in that instance, only because the number of people involved in doing the crimes are so large that you couldn't arrest them all peacefully. I see it more as self defense or protecting someone weaker from certain death when there is absolutely no other way to do it.. a last resort, so to speak. I do have similar concerns about innocents being killed and I am very disturbed by all wars, even those that I understand are necessary. It creates a strong inner conflict for me between what I know is logical and my personal ethics and feelings.
|