THE DEATH PENALTY

Currently the death penalty is one of the most controversial topics out there. All this happens because the people have emerged who accuse the death penalty be really inhumane to kill criminals while others argue that it is provisions necessary to maintain order and eliminate the worst offenders. For this reason, I want to talk about the arguments for and against the death penalty, so that our readers can form an opinion and choose one of these sides.

On the one hand, if you compared the death penalty with other types of punishment, as life imprisonment, you will see that it is a method to quickly end the suffering of those responsible and it avoid ending their lives locked up like animals. Also if you look at the cases of terrorists or psychopaths, you see how they are too dangerous to stay alive and they can only do further harm to others. Moreover it has been proved that in countries where the death penalty is active there is a decline in violence and crime, as in the case of Mexico. But, maybe, the argument which favours more the death penalty is that it gives some relief to the families of the persons who have been killed and it gives them some peace and comfort knowing that the murderer, of their loved ones, may not do more harm to the world or others.

On the other hand, the death penalty is currently regarded as a horrible and violent way to put on end to criminals and, when used alone is increasing more violence rather than stop it, which is supposed to be the obligation of justice. It is also said that there are other less violent methods than the death penalty, including imprisonment, which they keep criminals locked up without having to end their lives. Another important thing is the fact that this method is very expensive which each death penalty case cost over a million dollars. Finally, we must take into account, that as the death penalty defenders say, there are some countries where this method was abolished, and where there has been an increase in crime in the streets. But this statement must be qualified, meaning that it is possible that some of these crimes were previously hidden (not registered), or that this increase is due to the achievement of less serious crimes.

In conclusion, I hope I have given an overview of the issue of death penalty in the world and there is great controversy on this subject today. Finally, I can only say that in my opinion, the death penalty should be abolished because it is an inhumane act and if we use this method, we will become like the murderers.

Sergio Toledo Sánchez   2nd BAT. B