Article:https://deathpenalty.procon.org/questions/is-the-death-penalty-immoral/

The death penalty, also known as capital punishment is a state issued procedure involving execution of a person as a penalty for committing a crime. It has been used as far as going back to the earliest of societies. The death penalty is infamous for how controversial it is. Although the death penalty has been abolished in most parts of the world, is the death penalty justified? Some deem the death penalty as inhumane, and a cruel and unusual punishment. Some believe that the death penalty is reasonable and it’s use was beneficial. I believe that the death penalty was justified and it’s existence emphasizes the strength of the justice system, and its promise to punish crime and evil. After all, what good is having a justice system if its ideology is not carried out? Others argue against this perspective by thinking it is wrong to justify crimes such as murder with murder. For example, the death penalty can be thought of as brutal, inhumane, and an act of vengeance. However, was it not “inhuman” or “brutal” when criminals such as serial killers go around murdering innocent victims in sadistic methods just to be let off with a lighter punishment or sentence just because the death penalty is seen “immoral”?

An example of the death penalty being justified is when Genny Rojas, who was a four year old girl was cruelly abused and murdered by her aunt and uncle. Methods including beating her with a hairbrush, strangling her, hanging her on a hook, and handcuffed for days on end, before finally being murdered by being forced into a scalding bath tub for three minutes. Is the death penalty not reasonable when heinous acts like this go on? Another example would be serial killers such as Ted Bundy would impose as an authority figure in open public areas and approach his victims, and take them to undisclosed locations and commit his inhumane acts such as rape and murder. His victims included many helpless women who did not wish to suffer at the hands of a psychotic serial killer. But the death penalty should not be used just because it is considered “inhumane” or a “cruel and unusual punishment”, would this perspective not be contradicting itself? Yes, it is true that the death penalty also known as capital punishment, will not bring the victim back. However, it may bring closure to mourning and grieving families of the victim. The death penalty is considered as a last resort, and the most extreme conclusion, so when it is brought out to full effect, it is for a reason. 

There are other sentences such as life imprisonment that would be used, but if one says the death penalty will be used, then it is because the accused commited such cruel and evil that it cannot be resulted with a lighter punishment. Although the death penalty is viewed as “extreme”, compared to serious crimes commited by criminals, I think the death penalty is inferior, and is nothing compared to crimes such as rape. In 1988, a 17-year old Japanese girl by the name of Junko Furuta was kidnapped, raped, and tortured by four boys for 44 consecutive days before finally being killed by her kidnappers, and as of 2019, all four of her murdered are now released and walking free. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see her not get the justice she deserved, but theoretically if these boys ended up receiving the death penalty, do you believe it would have been enough? Would the execution of these four boys have equally matched her 44 days of suffering? It seems as though “cruel and unusual punishments” truly contradicts themselves if they believe the death penalty is too “extreme”.

There is a popular phrase called “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, and this means the idea that someone who causes another person’s suffering should suffer the same pain proportionally. I believe this connects with the idea of the death penalty strongly because it takes the perspective of people supporting capital punishment, and audience members including victim’s families. Not only does the Supreme Court deem the death penalty as constitutional, but twenty nine states have capital punishment on their books. The death penalty justifies itself by showing it’s respect to victims of mourning families. Without the death penalty, the justice system contradicts itself and does not promise punishment to evil and crime as it was intended. Capital punishment is used for the most extreme measures, and has been extremely beneficial to the justice system.