The Death Penalty’s Unsung Benefit: A Ray of Light in the Darkest Hours by Lucas Ceballos-Cala

“I think it is important because it can help to save peoples' lives” (Ceballos-Cala, 1). These are the words of an 8th-grade student at CMS in response to the question, “Why is Capital Punishment Important?” The topic of capital punishment is one that has been argued in our country for the entirety of its existence, with both sides holding strong arguments and presenting a sort of difinity over how this issue should be solved. But every time a solution is presented, there is always outrage and contradiction. Well, that is exactly why I have chosen to write about why we must continue to use capital punishment across the United States because it deters crime.

“Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, executions in the United States held fairly steady at between 40 and 65 each year. During that time, the number of murders in the United States remained fairly stable, too, at between 8,060 and 9,140. As the 1960s moved on, the number of executions dropped dramatically, until there were no executions at all from 1968 until 1977. As executions dragged to a stop, murders soared, reaching a high of 20,600 in 1974” (Kronenwetter). These are the words Michael Kronenwetter, a writer for ABC-Clio Issues, wrote when writing about whether the death penalty deterred crime. Additionally, a ProCon argument cited the 2007 findings of Michael Summers, a professor of Management Science at Pepperdine University. He wrote that from the early 1980s to present day, a rise in executions has led to the plummeting of murders committed, with spikes in murder rates coinciding with downfalls in executions (ProCon.org). Clearly, this reveals a strong connection between murder rates and the death penalty and supports the fact that we must continue to use the death penalty in order to save innocent people.

Furthermore, the same ProCon argument references Joanna Shephard and Hashem Dezhbakhsh, two professors at Emory University, stating that “[There is] strong evidence for the deterrent effect of capital punishment… Each execution results, on average, in eighteen fewer murders…” She adds, “The results are boldly clear: executions deter murders and murder rates increase substantially during moratoriums… Executions provide a large benefit to society by deterring murders” (ProCon.org). Studies done throughout multiple decades all show that capital punishment has a significant effect on murder rates in the US. That ratio, 1:18, makes it clear that we can save lives by using the death penalty, a fact that is too often overshadowed by the public repudiation of capital punishment.

An ABC-Clio Issues article written by Michael Kronenwetter talks about how those who believe the death penalty should be abolished argue that most prosecuted murderers either don’t think about consequences or think they are too good to be caught so they argue that capital punishment will not affect homicide rates (Kronenwetter). Although this may be true about most murderers, this claim is inaccurate because it does not take into account all the potential murders that were averted because of fear of the death penalty and instead chooses to point out the information found on the surface of this argument.

In a survey I conducted on my peers, when asked whether they supported the death penalty, one student answered, “I think people should instead have a life sentence in jail so they can reflect on the conflict they caused” (Ceballos-Cala 1). I disagree with what my classmate said here because although I will agree that most criminals deserve second chances or an opportunity to reflect on the pain they’ve caused, I do not believe that someone who purposely killed another human being, unless they had no choice (self-defense) or were mentally ill, should gain any sort of redemption, especially if the murder was done viciously and in cold-blood. These people should have considered the consequences prior to their actions because once the murder is committed, there should be no room for reconciliation.

Another reason why capital punishment should continue to be used is the constant danger of having these dangerous criminals alive. One person I interviewed pointed out that a positive impact the death penalty has on society is that it eliminates both the possibility of a murderer escaping prison and committing more crimes as well as their ability to inflict pain and carry out crimes from inside prison (Cala). This is a very real threat to all of us. Violence is still carried out by arrested murderers through their associates onto us on a daily basis.

To conclude, although the instances may be rare and doleful, there are times where we must take the life of a cold-blooded killer because it is the commensurate punishment for their crime and will allow us to save several innocent lives and help protect so many more.

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