Capital Punishment Assignment
Added on 2020-10-07
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Surname 1Student’s NameProfessor’s NameCourseDate Death PenaltyThere have been undeniable controversies on the legitimacy of capital punishment with many governments, philosophers, international organizations, and activists bearing contradicting opinions. A death penalty refers to the execution of a convicted criminal by administering lethal drugs, gas execution, hanging, or firing squad. Lethal weapon is the widely used method, although other methods are also allowed. Capital punishment for crimes like treason, arson, murder, and rape has is a historical practice that got the attention of prominent scholars like Platos. Plato argues that a punishment that results in the termination of human life should only beallowed for incorrigible (Hood para. 3). Some countries have termed the practice unconstitutional, while others still uphold it. According to Amnesty International, 690 executionswere recorded in 2018 in more than 20 countries (Amnesty International Para 3). In the United States, the organization noted an upsurge in the number of death penalties in 2007 from 25 to 45 deaths. Other states and countries have developed amendments that have made the death sentence unconstitutional. Most nations have, however, abolished the death penalty citing ethical, moral reasons and gross violations of human rights. Those who support the practice base some of their claims on religious views, the perception that it grants full justice and maintaining that some felonies are so horrendous such that there is no other retribution way. While there may be reasons to perceive a death penalty as right, the practice is ultimate cruelty, inhuman and
Surname 2degrading form of punishment that ought to be opposed in all cases irrespective of who is involved, crime circumstances, guilty or innocence.The death penalty is a vindictive, inhumane, undignified punishment that is a gross violation of fundamental human rights. While lethal injection is considered the most "humane" option, when gone wrong, the prisoner may take a longer time to die. The pain, psychological torture the prisoner goes through while awaiting death is unacceptable and extremely cruel that no moral human being should ever use against another one. Medical examination of death row victims has shown severe damage to body tissue through induced chemical reactions with the body and other forms of injuries. A death penalty match description of the International human rights treaty "torture is anything that causes severe pain or suffering whether physical mental, international for whatsoever reason including punishment for an act” (OHCHR Article 1). A death penalty can be argued to be physical and mental torture. Justice will never be justified by causing more harm to prisoners convicted of murder, where some of them are innocent. Torture to any human being, either innocent or guilty, violates fundamental human rights. Capital punishment should, therefore, be viewed as cruel and inhumane torture and alternative punishment measures adopted.Capital punishment is immoral and discriminatory, with some portion of individual groups being susceptible to such forms of punishment. The US.Senator Kamali Harris argument,“I have opposed the death penalty because it is an immoral, discriminatory and gross misuse of taxpayers money" is a true definition of the death penalty nature from a broader perspective (Procon.org para. 1). The claim makes a fundamental view on the issue from a different perspective. Capital punishment does not serve as the best form of blind justice. Greatest of the death row convicts are either individuals of colour, mentally ill or needy individuals. Black and
Surname 3Latinos have a higher probability of execution compared to the whites, a phenomenon that is an insult to the justice system. Black in the US makes more than 40% of the prisoner population in death row sentence raising questions on its legitimacy (Soken-Huberty para. 3). The claim that death punishment is an instrument of administering total justice is, therefore, a daytime lie given the massive discrimination in the legal systems. Most poor defendants who do not have the financial capability to afford lawyers are likely to be death row victims compared to those who have strong representation. Justice should never be determined by your race or size of your bank account. Capital punishment is, therefore, an insult to justice as it fosters discrimination based onskin colour, background, and the level of legal representation.Capital punishment is a tool of control but not justice. The most convincing argument is that death punishment will soon get innocent people killed by government agents who seek to trigger fear among their subjects. The justice system is a pool of flaws that see innocent individuals murdered. As Amnesty International argues, "The death penalty legitimizes an irreversible act of violence by the state and will inevitably claim innocent victims" (Amnesty International para.4). Capital punishment is a cruel practice that has already failed on its mission of justice. A death penalty is just but a tool of instilling fear among citizens and violating their rights. The claim that each death penalty deters another murder has been discredited y social science research.Most individuals argue that retribution is a moral flaw and problematic concept in practice. Murder cannot be taught as a crime by killing again. Desmond Tutu argues that “To take life that has been lost is revenge but not justice” (Ethic Guide para.5). Retribution just but a sanitized form of vengeance. The execution of innocent individuals is a crucial problem of punishment. A death sentence is a moral flaw that cannot be justified at all costs. It is a form of
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