FREE ESSAY ON CONTROVERSY OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

CONTROVERSY OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Laura Harrington
ENRU1100
Instructor: Rob Jacobsen
November 17, 2000
The Controversy of Capital Punishment(Revision)
In my opinion, capital punishment is a controversial issue. This topic is constantly
being debated. Some people believe that capital punishment is beneficial to society while
others posit that it is detrimental to society. I think that the abolishment of the death
penalty would be favorable to the atmosphere, which we inhabit. Although this issue can
get intense, I think it is solvable.
There are many benefits present on the side supporting the abolishment of capital
punishment. One major advantage of banning the death penalty is that a human life will be
salvaged. I think sentencing a murderer to death is unethical. It is attempting to solve
one wrong with another wrong. Murdering another individual is unjust and the assailant
should be fallible. However, I think that no individual has the justification to
terminate one's life. If the death penalty is abrogated tax money will be saved. Now that
capital punishment is legalized, tax money is being wasted on appeals against death
penalty sentences. 
Although there are advantages to banning capital punishment, there are also
disadvantages. One significant consequence to abolishing the death penalty is that the
public would be more at risk to be victimized. Another consequence is that there will be
overcrowding in prisons. As well, as a potential increase in crime there will be less
retribution available to the victim. For example, a murder victim's family member may not
be content with the aggressor receiving jail sentencing rather than the death penalty. An
additional disadvantage is that capital punishment is much more costly than jail
sentencing. This is because there are numerous appeals and court cases that occur from
these sentences. 
I believe that the legalization of capital punishment has initiated the controversy of
whether it should or should not be abolished. The prohibition of the death penalty would
be my tentative solution. Realistically, this process would be very tedious and time
consuming, but would be worth it in the end. I believe that if prisons are expanded to
accommodate the increasing quantity of inmates and harsher sentences are imposed that the
death penalty can be abolished successfully. If the execution of individuals is abolished
than, I believe our society would be more moral and just. As well, if capital punishment
is eliminated a human who has committed a crime has the opportunity to rectify and
rehabilitate him or herself. I agree with the idea that two wrongs do not make a right.
If an individual commits an unjust act, do not punish the individual with a similar act.
Instead, one should punish the individual in a more judicious manner such as imposing him
or herself with life imprisonment or solitary confinement. Hopefully, we can life in a
world where authorities do not have to go to the extremes of executed another as a means
of chastisement.