Eye for An Eye
An Eye for an Eye
Life is a precious gift from God. Even when a person has no material possessions, life is still possessed. In light of these observations, it is logical to assume that murder, the taking of another’s life, is the most heinous of crimes. Undeniably, penalties imposed upon criminals should match the crimes committed. Therefore, the worst crime possible, murder, should receive the worst penalty possible, death. One argument against the death penalty comes from the Bible, telling us not to murder. Murder is the unlawful killing of one being by another. The death penalty is the lawful killing of a human being after a trial by peers. So by definition, the death penalty is not murder, but justice. Furthermore, as stated by Ed Koch, former US Government official, “the execution of a lawfully condemned killer is no more an act of murder than is legal imprisonment an act of kidnapping”. Finally, the same Bible that condemns murder also advocates “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. This statement could be further developed to include a life for a life. It is argued, the death penalty should be banned to prevent the execution of innocent individuals unjustly convicted of capital murder. Statistically this has occurred; however, given the lengthy appeals process, all but few ultimately die, innocent or guilty. The above statistic applies to all crimes; from theft to kidnapping. Should no one be punished because of shortcoming the judicial system? Obviously, society could not function within a system devoid of law enforcement, because where there is no law, there is chaos. Some urge that death is too good for capital offenders. This position favours inhumane and unlawful disciplinary actions like torture and life imprisonment. Though some think it is not harsh enough, the death penalty delivers justice quickly and effectively. Capital punishment is more humane than life imprisonment. For example, a murderer sentenced to
Life is a precious gift from God. Even when a person has no material possessions, life is still possessed. In light of these observations, it is logical to assume that murder, the taking of another’s life, is the most heinous of crimes. Undeniably, penalties imposed upon criminals should match the crimes committed. Therefore, the worst crime possible, murder, should receive the worst penalty possible, death. One argument against the death penalty comes from the Bible, telling us not to murder. Murder is the unlawful killing of one being by another. The death penalty is the lawful killing of a human being after a trial by peers. So by definition, the death penalty is not murder, but justice. Furthermore, as stated by Ed Koch, former US Government official, “the execution of a lawfully condemned killer is no more an act of murder than is legal imprisonment an act of kidnapping”. Finally, the same Bible that condemns murder also advocates “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. This statement could be further developed to include a life for a life. It is argued, the death penalty should be banned to prevent the execution of innocent individuals unjustly convicted of capital murder. Statistically this has occurred; however, given the lengthy appeals process, all but few ultimately die, innocent or guilty. The above statistic applies to all crimes; from theft to kidnapping. Should no one be punished because of shortcoming the judicial system? Obviously, society could not function within a system devoid of law enforcement, because where there is no law, there is chaos. Some urge that death is too good for capital offenders. This position favours inhumane and unlawful disciplinary actions like torture and life imprisonment. Though some think it is not harsh enough, the death penalty delivers justice quickly and effectively. Capital punishment is more humane than life imprisonment. For example, a murderer sentenced to
Bibliography: The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments and the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical book. New York: Collins, 1989. Print. New Revised Standard Vers. Koch, Ed “Omdix.com” Death and Justice. February 19, 2013. www.omdix.com/pdf/docs/quiz_quiz_sample_essays_1071167887.pdf