Is Capital Punishment Just?
...ly weigh the differences between life in prison or possible execution. Frequently, murders are committed by substance abusers in moments of passion or anger. There is no conclusive proof that the death penalty acts as a better deterrent than the threat of life imprisonment. A second argument in favor of capital punishment claims that a just society requires the death penalty for the taking of a life. Under this belief, the taking of the murderer’s life restores the balance of justice. This allows society to show that murder is an intolerable crime that will be swiftly punished. Any lesser punishment would undermine the value society places on protecting lives. This unjustified emotional appeal for retribution only serves as a way to justify revenge. Although our first instinct may be to inflict pain on someone who commits wrongdoings, a society as evolved as ours requires a more enlightened response. The emotional impulse for revenge is not a sufficient justification for the use of capital punishment, with all of the problems and risks involved. Our criminal justice system should lead us to higher principles that demonstrate a complete respect for life, even the life of a killer. By allowing executions, killing as a form of payback is justified. All another murder does is extend the chain of violence. The idea of an eye for an eye, or a life for a life, is a hasty generalization and a simplistic view which our society should not endorse. People are executed under the death penalty in a way that minimizes suffering. American society’s aversion to torture demonstrates that murder is a similarly inappropriate punishment. Many victims’ families denounce the use of the death penalty. Using an execution to try to right the wrong of their loss only causes them more pain. No issue posed by capital punishment is more disturbing than the prospect that innocent people’s lives are at stake. Once an inmate is executed, nothing can be done to make amends if a mistake has been made. The United Stares justice system was formed on the premise that it should protect society’s general well being form harm. There is considerable evidence available that many mistakes have been made in sentencing people to death. The system has flaws that have let criminals back out on the streets and put innocent people in jail and on death row. Wrongful executions are a preventable risk....