Controversial Topic Discussion

Alright, I'll start this forum off with the Death Penalty because of a recent article I read in the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/us/18deter.html?th&emc=th

The current debate is about whether or not the Death Penalty deters criminals from committing crimes that would result in the death penalty. In the article, economists argue, with some statistics, that yes a deterrent effect is seen. Personally I think this is ridiculous. Of course a few people will be deterred from killing because they don't want to get caught and killed. However, the biggest impact of the death penalty is probably just making sure that murderers are not released back onto the streets and this can just as easily be accomplished with life sentences without parole. This might have a just slightly less powerful deterrent effect but it would probably be a virtually insignificant difference.

I think that it does not matter whether or not there is a deterrent effect, I believe that it is a waste of time to even think about this. The important issue here is whether the state has the ethical right to take a life that has committed crimes of a deadly nature. I don't believe that man has the right to take life period. The murderer did not have the right to kill but as much punishment as we can give them is to remove their rights to liberty and property/pursuit of happiness. Life is beyond us to give and therefore we do not have the right to take it.

These are my opinions on the subject of the death penalty, I'm looking forward to a good discussion. Thanks in advance!