Death Penalty-Choel Woo Lee

Capital punishment is, and has been for a long time, a hot issue for debate, but

changes in policy are not always visible or enacted fairly. Considering many problems the death

penalty brings, it should be abandoned worldwide and replaced by appropriate incarceration

with the chance for prisoners to reform.

We must consider that no matter what a convict is charged with, taking away another

person’s life is still an act of murder. Also, there is always the chance that the executed may

have been innocent. Lawyers and evidence are not always correct, even when the successfully

convict someone. This may occur due to misjudgments, framing, or even nefarious arbitrators.

Additionally, when these executions are carried out, families of the deceased have forever lost a

loved one with no chance of them returning as active members of society.

Cruelty of the death penalty also warrants discussion, as the executed often undergo

undue agony when they are put to death. There are well known facts through out the human

history and all over the world. Though victims and their families do not bemoan this, civilized

societies strive to treat all people equally and fairly, thus rejecting the idea of merciless justice.

Furthermore, capital punishment disallows those convicted to death a chance to reform.

If life sentences replace death sentences, it will be possible for offenders to reconsider their

actions and perhaps become remorseful. Pardons and paroles can be considered for the

imprisoned, and time in the prison ca be sufficient retribution for their inhumane conduct.

If the eye for an eye approach to punishment is indeed and effective deterrent for

crime, countries with the death penalty should have lower crime rates than nations without it.

This, however, is not the case. Abandoning capital punishment prevents countries for the act of

murder, while allowing criminals a chance to reform. In an era of rapid globalization, all nations

should consider the European Union’s lead, who turn down countries with the death sentence

from joining their federation.