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Capital Punishment: Deters murder, and is just Retribution
Capital punishment, is the execution of criminals by the state, for
committing crimes, regarded so heinous, that this is the only acceptable
punishment. Capital punishment does not only lower the murder rate, but
it's value as retribution alone is a good reason for handing out death
sentences. Support for the death penalty in the U.S. has risen to an
average of 80% according to an article written by Richard Worsnop, entitled
"Death penalty debate centres on Retribution", this figure is slightly
lower in Canada where support for the death penalty is at 72% of the
population over 18 years of age, as stated in article by Kirk Makir, in the
March 26, 1987 edition of the Globe and Mail, titled "B.C. MPs split on
Death Penalty".
The death penalty deters murder by putting the fear of death into would be
killers. A person is less likely to do something, if he or she thinks that
harm will come to him. Another way the death penalty deters murder, is the
fact that if the killer is dead, he will not be able to kill again.
Most supporters of the death penalty feel that offenders should be punished
for their crimes, and that it does not matter whether it will deter the
crime rate. Supporters of the death penalty are in favour of making
examples out of offenders, and that the threat of death will be enough to
deter the crime rate, but the crime rate is irrelevant.
According to Isaac Ehrlich's study, published on April 16, 1976, eight
murders are deterred for each execution that is carried out in the U.S.A.
He goes on to say, "If one execution of a guilty capital murderer deters
the murder of one innocent life, the execution is justified." To most
supporters of the death penalty, like Ehrlich, if even 1 life is saved, for
countless executions of the guilty, it is a good reason for the death
penalty. The theory that society engages in murder when executing the
guilty, is considered invalid by most supporters, including Ehrlich. He
feels that execution ofconvicted offenders expresses the great value
society places on innocent life.
Isaac Ehrlich goes on to state that racism is also a point used by death
penalty advocates. We will use the U.S. as examples, since we can not look
at the inmates on death row in Canada, because their are laws in Canada
that state that crime statistics can not be based on race, also the fact
that there are no inmates on death row in Canada. In the U.S. 16 out of
1000 whites arrested for murder are sentenced to death, while 12 of 1000
blacks arrested for murder were sentenced to death. 1.1% of black inmates
on death row were executed, while 1.7% of white inmates will die.
Another cry for racism, as according to Ehrlich, that is raised by
advocates of the death penalty is based on the colour of the victim, for
example "if the victim is white, it is more likely that the offender will
get the death penalty than if the victim had been black". This is true, if
you look at the actual number of people who are murder. More people kill
whites and get the death penalty, then people who kill blacks and get the
death penalty. The reason for this is that more whites are killed, and the
murders captured. Now if we look at the number of blacks killed it is a
lot less, but you have to look at these numbers proportionately. Percent
wise it is almost the same number for any race, so this is not the issue.
In a 1986 study done by Professor Stephen K. Layson of the University of
North Carolina, the conclusions made by Ehrilich were updated, and showed
to be a little on the low side as far as the deterrence factor of capital
punishment. Professor Layson found that 18 murders were deterred by each
execution is the U.S. He also found that executions increases in
probability of arrest, conviction, and other executions of heinous
offenders.
According to a statement issued by George C. Smith, Director of Litigation,
Washington Legal Foundation, titled "In Support of the Death Penalty",
support for the death penalty has grown in the U.S., as the crime rate
increased. In 1966, 42% of Americans were in favour of capital punishment
while 47% were opposed to it. Since the crime rate United states has
increased, support for the capital punishment has followed suit. In 1986,
support for capital punishment was 80% for and only 17% against with 3%
undecided, but most of the undecided votes said they were leaning toward a
pro capital punishment stance, if they had to vote on it immediately.
Let us now focus on Canada. The last two people to be executed, in Canada
were Arthur Lucas and Ron Turpin. They were executed on December 11, 1962.
The executions in Canada were carried out by hanging. 1
The death penalty was abolished in Canada in the latter part of 1976, after
a debate that lasted 98 hours. The death penalty was only beaten by 6
votes. If we look back to 1976, the year the death penalty was abolished
in Canada, threats of death, were being made to Members of Parliament and
their immediate families from pro death penalty advocates. Most members of
parliament, voted on their own personal feelings, as opposed to the views
of their voters.2
The same was the case in British Colombia, where accepting of the death
penalty, if it was reinstated 1987 , by the federal government was
discussed. The M.P.s were split, 17 out of 29 were for the death penalty.
This showed, that even the majority of the M.P.s were in favour of the
death penalty in B.C. Support for the death penalty in British Columbia at
the time was almost 70%, but the M.P.s felt that it was up to them to vote
how they felt was right, and not to vote on which vote would give them the
best chance for a second term.3
In 1987, the Progressive Conservative government wanted to hold a free vote
on the reinstatement of Capital punishment, but Justice minister Ray
Hnatyshyn, who was opposed to it, pressured the M.P.s, into voted against
the bill. Ray Hnatyshyn, was the deciding factor, if not for him, it was
widely believed that the reinstatement of capital punishment would have
gone through, and the death penalty would be a reality today.4
Capital punishment is such a volatile issue, and both sides are so deeply
rooted in their views that they are willing to do almost anything to sway
all of the people they can to their side.
We personally feel, and our views are backed up by proof, in the form of
studies by the likes of Isaac Ehrlich's 1975 and Prof. Stephen K. Layson's,
that was published in 1986, and polls that have been taken both in Canada
and the United States over the past few years. All of these studies and
surveys show that capital punishment is a valid deterrent to crime, and
obviously the public, and society as a whole are in favour of it. The
death penalty makes would be capital offenders think about weather
committing a crime is really worth their lives. Even if capital punishment
did not deter crime, the simple fact that it will allow society to "get
even" with murders. Capital punishment also insures peace of mind because
it insures that murders will never kill again.
1 From: Take Notice, (Copp Clarke Pitman Ltd., 1979) page 163
2 From: Article written by David Vienneau published in the March
24, 1987 edition of the "Toronto Star", titled, Debate
Agonizing for MPs.
3 From: Article written by Kirk Makir, published in March 26,
1987 edition of the "Globe and Mail", titled, BC MPs Split on
Death Penalty Debate.
4 From: Article written by Hugh Winsor, published in April 29,
1987 edition of the "Globe and Mail", titled, Debate on Death
Penalty placed on hold.
ADDITIONAL FEATURED ESSAYS
Capital Punishment: For
"execution prevents eighteen murders per year."(Hirsch, 122) Opponents argue that capital punishment is immoral. But if
The Threat Of Death
As the war on crime continues, two truths hold steady: eliminating all crime is impossible, and controlling it is a must
The Death Penalty Is Needed
More than 13,000 people have been legally executed since colonial times, most of them in the early 20th Century. By the
Capital Punishment
deters murder, and is just Retribution , is the execution of criminals by the state, for committing crimes, regarded so
My Opinion On Director Hoovers Essay
As a Law Enforcement Officer myself, I feel that Director Hoovers Essay hits the Controversy about capital punishment ri
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