The death penalty is among the issues that divides opinion. There are those who feel that it is an appropriate form of punishment that should be meted out on those who commit grave crimes. On the other hand is a camp composed of people who feel that the death penalty amounts to cruel punishment and that it should be abolished. Despite the controversy surrounding the death penalty, it is still practiced in the US. When one considers the damage that the death penalty causes, they see the need for its abolishment.
There are various reasons why the death penalty should not be used as a punishment method. That it has little impact on crime levels is one of these reasons. It has been observed that the death penalty does not discourage criminal behavior (“Five Reasons to Abolish”, 2018). In essence, the death penalty has failed to achieve its purpose and should therefore be abolished. The fact that its impacts are irreversible is another reason why the death penalty is not an appropriate means of punishment (“Five Reasons to Abolish”, 2018). Once someone has been killed, it is impossible to bring them back to life. It would be a gross miscarriage of justice to kill an individual who was innocent. One of the fundamental pillars of the US criminal justice system is humanity. The system strives to employ humane forms of punishment. The death penalty is inhumane as it robs human life of its sanctity. That the death penalty is usually carried out as though it were a spectacle is yet another issue that makes it inappropriate (“Five Reasons to Abolish”, 2018). Basically, the death penalty makes it impossible for individuals to die with dignity. It is therefore little wonder that the list of countries that are abolishing the death penalty is growing. These countries must have recognized that the death penalty is ineffective and violates the sanctity of human life.
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In conclusion, the US is one of a few countries that continue to apply the death penalty. If the country is to protect its image as a protector of human dignity, it needs to abandon this punishment method. In addition to being ineffective, the death penalty can fuel injustice. Moreover, this punishment method violates human dignity and goes against the American spirit. Therefore, concerned policymakers should introduce guidelines that do away with the death penalty.
References
Five reasons to abolish the death penalty. (2018). Amnesty International. Retrieved September 20, 2018 from https://www.amnesty.org.au/5-reasons-abolish-death-penalty/
