CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

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Capital punishment is the term used to describe the execution of criminals who are given a death penalty

Historically there have been many different forms of capital punishment, some attempt to deliver a swift and relatively painless execution, others are designed to make the criminal suffer…

Burning at the stake

Beheading

Hanging

Firing Squad

Gas Chamber

Electric Chair

Lethal Injection

In the past virtually every country in the world enforced the death penalty. However, during the 20th Century many countries chose to abolish capital punishment, believing it to be inhumane

In 1977 only 16 countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes. Thirty years later, that number had grown to 90. By 2007, 133 countries had abolished the death penalty in law or practice and 64 countries retained and still used the death penalty. Once abolished, the death penalty is seldom reintroduced. 91% of all known executions in 2006 took place in China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan and the USA

Here in Australia capital punishment was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1984, the last execution was held in 1967, and in 1985 capital punishment was abolished for all crimes

Source: www.amnesty.org/en/death-penalty

Organisations like Amnesty International voice their opposition to the death penalty and campaign to see it removed across the globe:

“Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception. The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights - the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice. It violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.”

Source:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/un-set-key-death-penalty-vote-20071209

However, despite opposition from organisations like Amnesty International, many people remain in favour of keeping the death penalty, especially when faced with a truly heinous crime

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For example, many in our own community called for the death penalty for Dante Arthurs who, in 2006, strangled to death and raped (possibly after murdering) an 8 year old girl in the toilet of a shopping mall…

Debate concerning the death penalty invites emotive responses. When faced with a truly sickening crime it is often difficult for people to think rationally about a fitting punishment. People usually demand revenge…

How many Americans would support the execution of Osama bin Laden? How many Australians would support the execution of the Bali bombers?

Both were unrepentant about what they did...

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Retribution (revenge) - if you take the life of another then you forfeit your own right to live

Deterrence – the threat of being executed deters people from offending

Protects society - there is no danger of the criminal escaping from prison and re-offending

Cost - why should tax payers have to fund the prison expenses for serious criminals?

History – countries have used the death penalty for centuries so why abolish it now?

Most arguments put in favour of capital punishment are not as straight forward as they might initially appear

Re-examine them along with the counter arguments and see if you still think they are convincing…

History – countries have used the death penalty for centuries so why abolish it now?

Just because something has been in existence since the beginning of time this does not make it right. Slavery has been in existence since the beginning of time, so has rape, but this doesn’t make them right

Cost - why should tax payers have to fund the prison expenses for serious criminals?

The various legal appeals made on behalf of defendants on death row in America can exceed in cost the funding for life imprisonment. Capital punishment can be more costly for the taxpayer (note this only applies in developed countries)

Protects society - there is no danger of the criminal escaping from prison and re-offending

Critics of the death penalty argue that we do not need to kill people in order to protect our society. If a criminal is locked in prison for life they pose no threat

It might not be as simple as this. Criminals could commit offences in prison, they could be let out on parole after many years and then re-offend; or they could escape and re-offend

Deterrence – the threat of being executed deters people from offending

Most serious crimes are ‘crimes of passion’ which are not premeditated. These are spur-of-the-moment acts involving family rows, domestic violence, drunken brawls...etc In such cases the aggressor does not think about the consequences of his/her action, the threat of a death penalty does not therefore act as a deterrence

Statistics show there has been no increase of serious crime within countries who chose to abolish the death penalty

Retribution (revenge) - if you take the life of another then you forfeit your own right to live

Critics of the death penalty argue that it is inhumane, brutal, and uncivilised. They say that capital punishment is hypocritical as the law condemns murder, and then goes on to murder in the name of the law

However, it should be noted that the motive of the criminal and the motive of the state are different. There is a clear difference between murdering for money or sex or enjoyment, and executing a criminal in order to protect society

There have been many cases where an innocent victim has been wrongly executed; clearly there is nothing that can be done when such a mistake has been made

See: www.innocenceproject.org/

Capital punishment makes a mockery ofthe idea of reform, it assumes that anindividual cannot change and robs themof the opportunity to do so

Also, people are often opposed to the death penalty on religious grounds…

THE CHRISTIAN VIEW

The sixth commandment states: "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13) However, this commandment is not absolute. In the very next chapter God commands: “Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death” (Exodus 21:17)

There are many occasions in the Bible when killing is justified. Perhaps it is for this reason that Christian societies have favoured the death penalty down through the ages

The Old Testament

In the Old Testament Law it is written: "Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Deuteronomy 19:21)

When this was written the most common reason for punishment was retribution

The New Testament

Jesus taught people that retribution was the last thing they should seek: "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matthew 5:38-39)

To secular (non-religious) people it seems strange to forgive those who have wronged us, yet in the Lord's Prayer it is written: "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us" (Matthew 6:12). This means Christians hope God will forgive them for the things they have done wrong in life. Of course Christians cannot expect God to forgive them for their sins if they are not willing in turn to forgive those who wrong them: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, our Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15)

Christians look to the teaching and example of Jesus when they require guidance in moral issues

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?' [Jesus replied:] 'If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her' ... At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no-one condemned you?' 'No-one, sir,' she said. 'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin' (John 8:3-11)

Taking the life of someone who has sinned or done wrong robs them of the chance to repent to God (say sorry for their sins)

Jesus made it clear that the reason He came to earth in the form of a man was to help those who had turned away from God through sin. It is precisely those who have sinned that need His help: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners". (Mark 2:17)

Sometimes people cannot understand why Christians are lenient when dealing with truly evil criminals. This is because they forget Christians are strongly influenced by their belief in an afterlife. Putting someone to death, even a truly evil criminal, means going against the teaching of Christ and therefore sinning. For this reason most Christians are opposed to capital punishment.

Christians appeal to the sanctity (sacredness) of life. A murderer's life is no less sacred than the life of any other human being; in the opinion of Christians we were all created in the image of God. Christians believe that wrongdoers will ultimately receive their punishment: "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19)

The very essence of Christian teaching is love and forgiveness. For this reason it is hard to see how a Christian might support capital punishment. Christians accept that criminals need to be punished, and that society needs to be protected from criminals. However, they do not believe that executing criminals is the solution. Instead, most favour life imprisonment for severe criminals. In prison the criminal can receive counselling, therapy, and education, all of which provide an opportunity for reform and ultimately salvation through Jesus