Maximus Ebert: Capital punishment can't be condoned by a reasonable society

August 22, 2013

The first established death penalty laws date as far back as the 18th century B.C. in the code of King Hammurabi of Babylon, in which the principle of exact reciprocity is very clearly used. This "eye-for-an-eye" punishment system used by Hammurabi ensured the punishment corresponded in kind and degree to the offense.

One would assume that over the course of nearly 4,000 years, society would be able to do away with barbaric means of "justice" and develop new methods of criminal punishment. Surprisingly, society has found satisfaction in this ancient law-giver's method of punishment, as 57 countries worldwide retain the death penalty. With 31 states, including Pennsylvania, having an enforceable death penalty statute, the United States is listed as the fifth leading user worldwide of this system.

Isn't it strange that a nation would denounce the practice of murder by committing the very same act? By doing so, we're essentially championing the right to life by taking it from others. The practice is, in itself, hypocritical in that it attempts to correct the criminality of killing by partaking in it. Murder is murder no matter the circumstances and to support the death penalty is to support premeditated murder.

No human being has the right to play God, seeing as God is the sole being who gives life and is the sole being who can take that life away.

Then why is it that the state feels it has the right to take away a sacred, human life? As a deterrent from future crime? Although it may sometimes satisfy the demands of strict justice, capital punishment oftentimes does not serve as a deterrent from future crime, seeing that some convicted criminals prefer the death penalty as their punishment.

Protection of society? It is argued that the death penalty should only be used when absolutely necessary to protect society from the one convicted. Given there are advanced prisons and security systems available in most parts of the world, the instances in which capital punishment would be absolutely necessary are very rare. Not to mention it has been proven that capital punishment has led to the miscarriage of justice through the wrongful execution of several innocent people in the face of compelling evidence.

The death penalty may even serve to perpetuate a lessened view of the value of human life in society that leads to capital crimes in the first place. It also raises the question whether we have established our justice systems out of a desire for rehabilitation or out of a desire for retribution. Capital punishment is killing out of retribution, which is simply revenge and cannot be condoned by a reasonable society.

As French philosopher Albert Camus pointed out, "Capital punishment is the most premeditated of murders." Since 1915, 353 premeditated murders have been committed by the state of Pennsylvania and today 193 persons sit on death row awaiting the same fate. To remain great, this state must work to abolish capital punishment. Pennsylvania, the time is now to execute the death penalty.

Maximus Ebert is a junior at Allentown Central Catholic High School.


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