Death Penalty In Australia

0004. “Individuals who engage in inhumane activities should face the death penalty thereby saving the taxpayer the cost of supporting their life of imprisonment.” `AN EYE FOR AN EYE WILL MAKE THE WHOLE WORLD BLIND; the famous quote spoken Mahatma Gandhi- the quote used countless timesby appeasers of the death penalty: The same death penalty that has not been used in Australia since 1967- which was then abolished by the federal government in 1973. Death penalty appeasers will argue that “The death penalty violates the right to life. It is cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.”* This may be true, but aren’t the crimes of rape and murder even more so? Wouldn’t one feel justice had been served if your child was brutally murdered, or would
one sleep better at night knowing that their abuser was no longer alive?` `Capital punishment had been part of the legal system of Australia since British settlement and during the 19th century, crimes that warranted a death sentence included burglary, sexual assault, sheep stealing, forgery, murder and manslaughter there is also one reported case of someone being executed for "being illegally at large." During the 19th century, these crimes saw about 80 people hanged each year throughout Australia.` `Before and after federation, each state made its own criminal laws and punishments.During The 20thcentury 114 people were executed in Australia for numerous crimes.
The last of which being Ronald Ryan. It was alleged that Ryan shot a prison officer by the name of George Hodson during a prison escape from a Victorian prison. This execution sparked huge debate,and the biggest public protests ever seen in the history of Australia. This was because many did not believe the case was proved beyond reasonable doubt.` `This may sound like an argument to keep the death penalty out of our courts, but I believe that this just proves that there is no better time than now to bring it back. I mean, 50 years ago when we had a quarter of the technology we have now there would have been numerous people convicted that weren’t truly guilty. These days we have extensive testing, plentiful dna tests, and numerous other tests that can prove the guilt of someone beyond the shadow of a
doubt. So, what better time than now?` So who should die? Could we cherry pick people or crimes? I think so. I believe that remorse should play a factor. For example, a pedophile who has shown no signs of remorse or has shown intent to hurt again should face the death penalty over someone who killed someone and has showed their sorry, and that they are remorseful.Drug traffickers and drug smugglers, who have had the intent to sell, have also had the intent to kill.
31.3 deaths per million are caused by accidental overdose in Australia. In 1999 The overdose death toll surpassed the road death toll because of 10 groups who were targeting their sales at young women. If 10 groups can kill so many, shouldn’t they deserve the same fate? While crimes like petty theft, robbery and breaking and entering shouldn’t warrant such a fate, the more heinous crimes should. `Of course, some would rather see their attacker rot in jail than die but should the taxpayers of Australia have to bear the burden of having to support the rest of the criminal’s life in jail?Detaining a prisoner in jail can cost the community upwards of $45, 000 per prisoner, per year. And with our system of justice the offender could be out in half their sentence with good behavior.What closure could be given to a family of a dead child when they know that their daughter’s murderer could be out in seven years on a technicality? `
`BIBLIOGRAPHY
Death Penalty In Australia. (2007) University of New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties.Retrieved November 02, 2008 from `[http://www.nswccl.org.au/issues/death_penalty/australia.php](http://www.nswccl.org.au/issues/death_penalty/australia.php) Capital Punishment In Australia. (2007) Wikipedia. Retrieved November 02, 2008 from[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Australia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Australia) Abolish The Death Penalty. (2008) Amnesty International. Retrieved November 03, 2008 from[http://www.amnesty.org.au/adp/](http://www.amnesty.org.au/adp/) Death Penalty Becomes An Issue. (2003)[Jeralyn E. Merritt](http://www.talkleft.com/special/Jeralyn). Retrieved November 03, 2008 from[http://www.talkleft.com/story/2003/08/20/075/92834](http://www.talkleft.com/story/2003/08/20/075/92834)