THE DEATH PENALTY

The rise of the criminality in the world is a topic about which the mass media is talking all the time time because some states of the world have reinstituted the death penalty. So that’s causing lots of arguments and problems in them.

But, is the death penalty a good choice, or not?

On the one hand, some people see it as positive. Firstly, because the death penalty gives tranquility to the families of the victim who suffered so much. Moreover, it erases the possibilities that the criminal will kill again, so, the justice is better served. In addition, DNA testing and other methods of modern crime scene science can now effectively eliminate almost all uncertainty as to a person's guilt or innocence, so it’s almost impossible that the government can send an innocent person to death.

On the other hand, the death penalty could be seen as cruel and unusual because it is against the Bill of Rights. The most important reason why people are against it, is because there is a possibility that innocent men and women may be put to death, and it doesn't bring the victim back to life. Furthermore, the costs to taxpayers of the death penalty is several times more expensive than that of keeping someone in prison for life, then the prisoner's family must suffer as the victim’s family from seeing their son or husband put to death by the state.

In conclusion, there are more arguments against the Capital Punishment, the reason is very clear: why kill people to show killing is wrong? It’s incoherent as I see it. So, it’s more important that the government spends money on criminal research and security than erase the criminals of the map using large judicial procedures.

BIEL MORRO BENEJAM 2n BATX - A

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

THE DEATH PENALTY

We’re going to talk about the death penalty, which is also called Capital punishment or “execution”. we’ve chosen this topic because it’s an interesting and current topic for debate and at the same time a topic which carries controversy. Nowadays there are a lot of countries which have been prosecuting this law (for example Ecuador, Egypt, India, Iraq, Japan, Pakistan or the united states) whereas others have banned it ( Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy or the united kingdom.) it’s done in many ways, but the most common ones are, for example, execution, Decapitation, Electrocution, Gas chamber or letal injection. We haven’t got a radical position about being for or against the law because we think that it depends on the situation, so we’re going to give you some reasons for it and some reasons against it.

Supporters of this law say that the criminal has committed a really terrible crime, and instead of staying a lot of years in prison (maybe the rest of their lives) it would be better for them to be killed, and this way they don’t need to suffer so much. They also say that we wouldn’t pay so many taxes, because the government pays for maintaining the prisons, but the money comes from all of us. What’s more, normally the family of the victim wants justice to be done, and the best way to do justice is killing the person who has committed the crime. Finally they also explain that we should kill bad people in order to have a better world.

Opponents say that some prisons (for example Guantanamo) are in the worst conditions that you can imagine, and there, prisoners seem to be like animals (they are badly treated). Moreover, sometimes people are wrongly accused, they sometimes kill innocent people.

Another reason they give is because you’re killing a person too, you could also be accused of killing someone, and this would create an endless chain and everyone would die. Finally they say that even though the criminal has misbehaved you must think that everybody can make mistakes, we’re all human and people make mistakes, nobody is perfect.

To conclude, we want to give you our opinion. On the one hand Cristina would opt for defending the “against” position, because you’re killing a person, and for their family it would be really hard to accept their death. There are also organizations which are against this penalty, for example Amnesty International. On the other hand, Salomé would opt for defending the “for” position, because the criminal has committed a dreadful action and it will be better for him or her to be killed instead of suffering for a long time.

 

Salomé Mir and Cristina Melià. 2^nd Batxillerat B

THE DEATH PENALTY

The death penalty has been used by some countries as Cuba, United States… It is a practice that kills people who have committed a terrible crime. So, it has opened a discussion.

On the one hand, there are people who are for the death penalty. Despite killing a person, they give some arguments in favor. Firstly, it gives comfort to the victim’s families who have suffered so much. Secondly, criminals are more frightened and justice is better served. Thirdly, people who are for the death penalty, think that eye for an eye is fair.

However, there are people who are against the death penalty. They give some arguments as it is a bad practice that doesn’t serve. Also, it sends the wrong message (why kill people who kill people to show killing is wrong). Furthermore, it doesn’t bring the victim back to life.

On balance, there are more arguments against the death penalty. However, some countries are using it at this moment. In my opinion, it’s a bad practice because you kill a person who had done the same previously and this criminal could change in the future.
Raúl Cardona Pons  2n BTX C