An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.
Sillypore is ranked 10th in 2004 for the most number of executions per million population. Most of our criminals are hung for drug trafficking and murder offenses. The execution, by hanging, is carried out every Friday morning with little details made known to the public.
Terminating someone's life before his natural death is like playing God. Human life is precious, nobody has the right to take it away. Moreover, two wrongs do not make a right.
Capital punishment achieves nothing. It does not bring the murdered victim back to life. It also serves to punish the love ones and family members of the prisoner. If you are thinking that it reduces or puts a lid on the crime rate, think again. Potential criminals always think they will never get caught or when they have to worry about their next meal, being put to death is the last thing on their mind.
Looking at a would-be criminal psychological profile, he would most probably be abused or subjected to a violent upbringing. He may also be neglected. Under such circumstances, can you blame him for not having the right morals? Shouldnt the society be partly responsible for him going astray? Almost all those on death row have a sad past to tell. Since they are a product of our society, than the society should give them a chance to repent. There must be a more appropriate punishment and rehabilitation than to hang them.
In Sept 2000, the Pope expressed his hope "that there no longer be recourse to capital punishment, given that states today have the means to efficaciously control crime, without definitively taking away an offender's possibility to redeem himself".
Last, but not least, is the accused really guilty as charged? What if there is a mistake? What if.....? Death is irreversible.
If you agree with my viewpoints, please sign this online petition.
"What does the law say? You will not kill! How does it say it? By killing!" (Translated from French) Victor Hugo, a french author. (Les Miserables, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.)
Ps: that picture is taken from the good people at http://singaporeist.blogspot.com/
posted by Nobody @ 21:20
2 Sightings:
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There are numerous arguments for and against capital punishment. Let's start by looking at 3 approaches to studying this issue.
1) Capital Punishment for a desired outcome - to reduce crime rate (Utilitarian).
2) CP as a way to pay the criminal his due deserts bcos he deserves it (Retributivist).
3) CP as a mode of distributing rewards and punishments based on merit or vice (Desert). Rewards by protecting the innocent /upright. Punishments for the guilty.
Whether (1) has any significant effect to reduce crime, I do not know. But I do know that its cheaper to hang these people than to put them behind bars and feed them for a few decades.
Now, (2) is less of a preventive measure but a follow up action. This means that it is more concerned on retribution on the guilty.
And, (3) is more concerned with the upholding/maintaining a system that discourages crime.
If we want to prevent crime, (1) is not adequate. (2) and (3) dun help much either. It would be best to hunt down and neutralise all potential criminals (watch the movie Minority Report by Tom Cruise). But this will be murder on a mass scale. The thought of it can be horrifying.
Being held guilty although innocent is a tragedy. But, a strong judicial system, that is staffed with competent professionals, and is not corrupted will reduce such wrong pronouncements to a minimum.
To execute offenders to save taxpayers' money and to send a signal to potential offenders thru capital punishment all sounds reasonable. To let them off just like that is unbearable.
Thus, up till now, I am still for CP. This may change in the future.
Just my 2 cents worth of thought.
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