Dead man walking

Dead Man walking

Should we still apply the death penalty? Isn’t it time to abolish this act?

            Many countries have eliminated the death penalty; after all we are not in the Dark Ages anymore. While other countries still hold strong and believe in this “punishment” even for minor crimes.

            I am going to spare the religious point of view on this matter: We as human have a duel nature, that is to say a soul and a flesh body and no one has the right to take a human being’s life. 

            I am more interested in the anthropological and social approach to the subject because after all on this earth no person has total guiltiness and as much as the juridical system is prudent, errors will eventually take place.

            However, when gambling with someone’s existence you’d better be 100% sure for a single shadow of doubt and you’ll be sending an innocent to his death. In this case there is no turning back and it’s too late for second chances.

            My main concern is: as emotionless and vigilant that justice tries to present itself, the jury and the judge remain human therefore vulnerable and impressionable, no one among us is infallible we are all error prone. 

            A more efficient alternative to the death penalty could be a lifetime sentence; this way the criminal will have enough time to reflect upon his actions and could repent. His experience may prevent other novice delinquents from following his footsteps thus reducing the crime rates on the long run. 

            Another benefit of imprisonment is on the unlikely event that the sentenced is freed from his charges, a second chance can be offered because clearing a dead person’s name is useless: the damage has already been made.

            In the end, I can comprehend that citizens may demand that a rapist, serial killer, murderer… be put to death as a punishment. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but personally I cannot take it upon myself and my conscience to be responsible for someone’s death. 

            Death is a quick and easy way out for the criminal while a lifetime of imprisonment is much harsh. Don’t know if this makes me soft and bound to my feelings, all I’m sure of is that “what if” question can be so unbarring.