The Death Penalty

Tiffany and I agreed that this week we would promote a discussion on the blog about human life issues (in a way continuing off of the abortion debate started last week). So, first up, the death penalty.

Tiffany’s Stance: The death penalty is such a controversial issue that many people find it hard to take one side. Personally, I am one of those who can’t make up their mind. I see benefits to both having it and not. But to spark the debate among the bloggers, here are some reasons the death penalty should be utilized.

To start, the degree of crime can be used. Many people feel that a murderer or rapist is getting what they deserve when they are put to death. They damaged another human being’s life so theirs should be damaged as well.

A second reason, put bluntly, is efficiency. The criminals of serious crimes who are sentenced to life imprisonment are taking up place in the prisons. They are never going to be released into the world, so basically they are wasting space in the prison cells.

A third and final reason is the wasting of resources. The prison system is providing food, water, heat, and a place to sleep for people who do not deserve it. If the criminals were put to death, then those resources that would have gone to them, can go to the homeless who never did anyone any harm.

Ryan’s Stance: As everyone could plainly see last week on the blog, I am against abortion and unswervingly pro-life. However, I believe that someone who is “pro-life” cannot let that description stop at abortion. With regard to human life, I take the “seamless garment” stance: I am pro-life on all issues regarding human life, and so I also stand against the death penalty.
It is my firm belief that every human being has a right to life from conception to natural death, and the death penalty violates this fundamental right. I would condone the death penalty in one abstract situation: If a society does not have the means to adequately and securely imprison the perpetrator of a very serious crime who, outside of maximum incarceration, poses a grave threat to the life of each member of the society, that society may take action to protect itself from this person by execution. However, such situations would have to be judged on a case-by-case basis, and, as Pope John Paul II said, in the context of modern civilization such situations are difficult if not impossible to find. Other than this one exception, the death penalty must be avoided as a punishment for crime.

Many of you may assail this position in your comments, but I think a large part of our demand for the death of a criminal results from his or her dehumanization. We must remember that criminals are human beings with a fundamental right to life. This in NO WAY condones the person’s conduct or excuses him or her of due jail time (i.e. life imprisonment). However, we must also keep in mind that even criminals have a right to natural death, for how is there hope for a criminal to change his or her ways and turn from a prior life of crime if we cut his or her life short? And, of course, every such criminal would be given the opportunity to repent and make amends to the victim’s family only within the context of serving a life-sentence without the possibility of parole inside a maximum security prison. Surely there are far better ways to deal with criminal actions than death.

Now, we know that the reasons given, both for and against the death penalty, have probably not changed anyone’s mind. But what are your thoughts on capital punishment? Are you stuck in the middle with regard to this subject? Or are you one who feels strongly towards one side? Why do you take the stance you do?