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Are you for or against the death penalty?

Though many countries like Europe, Pacific states such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Latin America have abolished the use of capital punishment, other retain it. Countries like The United States, Japan, India, and Singapore retain the use of death penalty and it served as a punishment for murder, treason, military justice, adultery, drug trafficking, human trafficking and serious corruption cases.

The death penalty debate has led us to ponder on the pros and cons of capital punishment. Opponents of capital punishment may argue that death penalty is an infringement of human rights. However, we cannot deny the fact that death penalty has its advantages. It served as deterrence to serious crimes as the fear of death can deter people from committing similar crimes. Most criminals would think twice about committing murder if they knew that they are putting their lives at stake. Thus, it is deem necessary to carry out execution on people who have committed egregious crimes such as murders or treason.

As compared to life imprisonment, capital punishment seems like a wiser choice when it comes to the preventing a loss of innocent lives. There is a possibility that the criminals can be released early from imprisonment. This will endanger the lives of many others and people will fear that these criminals may strike again. We should not assume that these criminals would be repentant after they are sentenced. Hence, the death penalty is essential for serious crimes like murder.

Moreover, through the use of death penalty, citizens would be more confident in the government. For example, the impartiality of the Singapore’s government is portrayed in many drug trafficking cases. In 2005, an Australian drug trafficker Van Tuong Nguyen was arrested in Singapore for drug trafficking. Though the Australian government had tried to plead for clemency, the Singapore government refused to give in and punished the offender accordingly. He was executed by hanging. This incident proved that retaining capital punishment will earn the government a better reputation.

Hence, given the many advantages of capital punishment, death penalty should be retained.

posted by Si Hui @ 6:52 PM