Article 7: Should the death penalty be banned as a form of punishment?

Source Citation:

Messerli, Joe. "Should the death penalty be banned as a form of punishment?"

BalancedPolitics.org. N.p., 21 Nov. 2009. Web. 1 Apr. 2010.

This website isn't necessarily an article and it doesn't

necessarily talk about rehabilitation either, but if the

death penalty can be banned as a form of punishment

that would be a good solution to the problem that my

question is posing as well.

I was pretty happy to see that the list of reasons in the "Yes"

column is bigger than the "No" column. Some points that really

stood out to me in the "Yes" column were that life in prison is a

better deterrent and a worse punishment, mentally ill patients

may be put to death, and that it's useless in that it won't bring

the victim back.

Life in prison is worse because "death may be too

good for [the criminals]" (Messerli). This point appeals

to victims and their families more because they most

likely would rathersee the criminal suffer than just

be put to death quickly.

Probably one of the things that bothers me the most

about capital punishment is that mentally ill people may

be put to death. It's already bad enough that they are

discriminated against by some; is it not enough? Do

they have to be put to death for something that they

didn't know they were doing wrong? Is that what

America is about? It just frustrates me that the legal

system doesn't always look closely into cases that

involve people's lives - especially if the life in question

is one of a mentally retarded person.

Finally, it's completely USELESS in that it doesn't bring

the victim back to life. Not only is the victim dead, but the

offender now too? Doubling the death toll just doesn't seem

right because it doesn't follow the natural right to life. Sure,

maybe the victim's right was violated when they were

murdered - but "forgiveness is the only way to start the

healing process, and this won't happen in a revenge-focused

individual" (Messerli). This may be the most valid point I have

come across that somewhat alludes to rehabilitation as

being a better option.

Now, let's take a look at the "No" column.

Justice is better served? Hmm. Are there statistics

to prove that? I don't think so.

It creates another form of crime deterrent? Hmm.

I don't believe statistics out there say that either.

Ironically, I found statistics that show the death

penalty does NOT have a deterrent effect.

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-about-deterrence-and-death-penalty

Looking at that graph, murder rates were down by

30 million in the Northeast because the number of

executions was so much lower. Crime deterrent?

I think not.

Taking a look at this website really opened my eyes

to be even stronger for rehabilitation. The death

penalty is a cruel and unusual form of punishment

at times, and though rehabilitation may seem like a

preposterous suggestion for an alternative, it can

happen. And be effective.