Death Penalty: The Controversy Around This Subject (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name
Instructor’s Name
Class Title
Date
Death Penalty: The Controversy around this Subject
The death penalty is the controversial subject that has attracted a lot of debates. While there are many proponents of it, the subject has also received opposition. The supporters of death penalty hold the view that it is useful in retribution, and deterrence. While legalizing death penalty may be cruel and humane, it is vital in ensuring reduction of crime level in the society because of its deterrence nature.
First, death penalty introduces fear to commit capital offences because the fear of death among the people contributes to its success, deterrence. According to Bohm, capital punishment has proven to be the most reliable deterrent the society has against murder (5). Since the community has the most significant interest in preventing death, it should apply the most robust way to deter murder. The implication is that other possible murders will be stopped from murdering once they realize the other criminals are executed for their crimes through the death penalty.
Besides, the death penalty ensures that retribution is carried out justly. Hood asserts that deserved punishment helps in protecting the society morally by reinstating this just order (5). The implication is that the wrongdoer will be made to pay a price that is equivalent to the crime he has done. Admittedly, when one commits a murder, it disrupts the order in the society because the crimes take away property, lives as well as freedom from the nation. Thus, giving death punishment will merely restore the law in the country and justly punishes those who commit the crime. Furthermore, retribution serves justice for the victims of murder and their families. Nonetheless opponent of the death penalty may view retaliation as revenge motivated by malice. Instead, it is driven by the need to provide justice and restore order for harmonious living.
However, the opponents of the death penalty argue that it is not morally right for the state to take away the life of citizens in whatsoever situation. Although these opponents forget that this criminal they want to live also took away someone’s life thereby leaving his/her children orphans, and family member devastated. Equally, it is immortal not to properly execute those people who have committed horrendous crimes (Bohm 9). For instance, one would ask the opponents of the death penalty the kind of punishment that should be given to a terrorist who has murdered several students in a learning institution.
Additionally, the opponents cite chapter eight of the U.S. Constitution that argues that everybody should be treated with the human without cruelty. It would be just to carry out the death penalty in a rational manner, without torture (Neubauer, and Henry 2). What is more, opponents of the death penalty argue that no justice system is so accurate a...