The death penalty is a very serious. Not only is the issue very serious in terms of legal structure but also in terms of morality. The amount of people in favor of the death penalty has grown significantly over the years. Recent polls show that 75% of U.S. citizens are in favor of the death penalty. The arguments for the death penalty base there arguments on the ideas of deterrence and retribution; claiming that the death penalty works to prevent future crimes and that it is an equal punishment. The idea of the death penalty also draws somewhat confusing parallels with the Bible. The Bible does not have a clearly stated position on the issue and is often used by both sides in order to promote their ideas. The U.S conference of Bishops has been very carefully handling the issue and attempting to explain the Bibles stance.
The Catholic Bishops ask the question is capital punishment an appropriate punishment in current day United States.In this context the Bishops enter the debates of deterrence and retribution. The Catholic Bishops question whether or not the use of capital punishment actually prevents others from committing crime. There is very little evidence that supports this idea and statistics actually show that the reverse may be true. However proponents of the death penalty suggest that the reason is because of the delay of the death penalty through the series of lengthy court appeals.
The Catholic Bishops similarly question the theory that the death penalty is appropriate retribution. The Bishops also add the idea of reform as another negative of the death penalty. Clearly the death penalty does not allow for the reform of criminals. Some statistics have even shown that behavior worsens while people spend time in jail. The Bishops acknowledge that people should be punished for crime and removed from society if necessary, but they also suggest that the step of reform should be integrated into the legal system.
Personally I am not comfortable with the death penalty. A major reason is because there have been people put on death row who are innocent. I don't think we should kill anyone who has even a chance of being innocent. However if i put myself in the place of someone who's child or friend had been murdered, i know i would want revenge. I understand that, however with the way that the legal system is set up anyone put on death row won't actually be executed for years. Than the person has to just sit and wait and fill with bitterness. So honestly I don't see the advantage of having the death penalty. I understand the points on both sides but I still do not feel comfortable with the death penalty.
