A Moral Issue Of Murder
Capital punishment is an issue that has long been debated amongst Americans. We have been questioning the morality of "an Eye For an Eye" way of thinking. Many say that serious crimes deserve serious punishments such as death, where others view death to be an unjust punishment for any crime. Each side seems to be equal in its volume of supporters. There are also many who ride the fence on the issue, unconvinced of either side. I, however, am writing to illustrate the immoral view of capital punishment. This document does not presume to have the right answer to the question, for to assume that would be arrogant. No, this essay is merely a tool to be used in weighing this very important issue. When the unspeakable happens and a human life, or lives, is taken by another, for reasons other than self defense or accidental, revenge and fury are so often the first emotions to surface. It is often thought that restitution will ease the pain of loss. To accomplish the feat to revenge wounded hearts, many turn, quite ironically, to murder. That is after all what capital punishment entails, murder. However justified, to intentionally end a life is to murder. At first glimpse, to take a life for a life
I find it odd when Ernest Haag states, "I see no evidence for society somehow not having the right to execute murderers. It has always done so. Traditional laws and Scriptures have always supported the death penalty"(640). When the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America plainly states that "no cruel and unusual punishment will be inflicted." However, to deprive someone of their life for any reason is unmistakably cruel. Furthermore, all of the executions used today can be considered unusual; the gas chamber, the injection of a lethal chemical in to the body, or electrocution. Which of these is not unusual? Going back to the first quote in regards to scriptures, let me quote the sixth commandment from the Bible, "Thou Shall not Murder." The will of God regarding killing in any form can not be made any clearer. Quite on the contrary to Haag's statement, there seems to be no evidence for society having the right to execute murderers except through their own beliefs. This holds little importance due to the endless facts that society is wrong as often as it is right. Our Constitution spares the convicted of "cruel and unusual punishment," yet that is exactly what capital punishment entails. Taking a life can be viewed in no other manner than cruel, no matter how painless. God himself professes that "thou shall no murder." Yet society is still confused. It is said, by many prosecutors in their attempt to convict killers, that there is no excuse to take a life, so punishment should not
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Approximate Word count = 1034
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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