Here's a "Capital" idea

In the coming week the US will execute it’s 1000 prisoner since the death penalty was reestablished in 1977. And the debate rages on, as to whether or not we should continue to execute prisoners convicted of capital offenses.

Here are some facts on the death penalty:

- The US ranks 4th in the world for most executions, behind China, Iran, and Viet Nam (all of which are communist/dictatorship counties).

- The US executes more minors (under 18) than any other country in the world.

- Almost two-thirds of the rest of the world have abolished the death penalty in either law or practice (with some exceptions for war-time crimes).

- Texas executes more people than any other state. Harris County (Houston) executes more than any other county in the US.

- 12 US states have ended laws providing for the death penalty.

Arguments for the Death Penalty:
- It deters crime.
- It ensures that these people can never harm again.
- It is provided for in the bible.
- It provides justice to the family of victims.
- 68% of Americans approve of the death penalty in one capacity or another.


First of all, it is not a deterrent. In a recent report for the United Nations, surveys have shown that the threat of the death penalty does not deter persons any more that the threat of life imprisonment. And studies have shown, that in countries that have abolished the death penalty, there was not a rise in major crime. And, in fact, making adjustments in many other factors, such as education reform, or city beatification projects, have shown to have a greater impact on crime rates.

Yes, this does guarantee that they will never harm again, but so does a sentence of life in prison with possibility of parole. And what if they’re really innocent? Since 1973, 121 prisoners have been released after DNA test were able to prove their innocence. There has not yet been a documented case where the US did execute an innocent person, but with the number of people that have been released, some just days before execution, it’s asinine to assume that an innocent person has never been executed.

The Old Testament of the bible does condone use of the death penalty in a few place, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth”, for example. However, anyone who would actually use this argument is completely ignorant of the teachings of any major religion. Religions teach compassion and forgiveness, and though we must be able to protect ourselves by locking up criminals, we must likewise have compassion for the sanctity of their life, even if they would not have compassion toward us.

But, it does give a sense of justice served for the families of the victims. This is very true, many have said they wanted justice, or that they felt justice had been served, toward their respective family members. But a mistake is being made in assuming that revenge is justice. Revenge is not justice. And this concept has been taught by Jesus, Moses, Mohammad, Gandhi, Buddha, and many other important people. I mention these people, because there is no debating that our country is one that is very moral, and spiritual, and religious, and many of these figures provide the cornerstone for what are morals are based upon. So, if we are to assert that we are a moral nation, and if we want to distance ourselves from nations, which we often view as being immoral, such as China, Iran, and Viet Nam, then we should make a move to join the rest of the civilized world and end the death penalty.

However, 68% of Americans do support some form of the death penalty remaining in existence, and as we know, America is the greatest country ever (sarcasm), so maybe we should keep it around. At one time the majority of American approved of slavery, but that didn’t make it right. In the mid-1940‘s, the majority of Americans approved us putting the Japanese in internment camps, but that didn’t make it right. Just because the majority of people feel a certain way, doesn’t mean they are right. That is the beauty of our constitution, is it is designed with a concept called “majority rule, minority rights”. Even today, the majority of Americans think that most or all of the immigrants in the US should be deported, but again, that doesn’t make it right (I have some really good ideas and solutions to our illegal immigration problems, but that will come in a later essay).

There are a number of other arguments against capital punishment that I am not, yet, going to take the space to cover, but I hope a time comes soon, that our country can take a moral step forward, and end the death penalty.