The Death Penalty isn't a deterrent, it is murder. Do you agree?

I do not agree with this statement to a fair extent as i believe that the death penalty is a justified and suitable deterrent in order to keep the crime rate down, especially organized ones.

While some crimes may be done on impulse, others are well organized and prepared beforehand. The death penalty - the ultimate price one can pay - will thus deter these potential criminals by the serious consequences they will have to face upon doing the crime. Thus, through this potential threat, crimes will be discouraged to a fair extent as people would be afraid of getting the death penalty if they were caught. This prevention indirectly saves a lot of money and lives, and it is also economically cheaper to kill criminals instead of jailing them for life, thus the death penalty is a very economically friendly method for governments to control crime and criminals. This concides perfectly with the pragmatist approach the Singapore government tend to use.

However, there are situations where the death penalty is used as a form of revenge, thus making it morally unethical. However, is it totally wrong for the families of victims to feel a sense of injustice and the need for revenge? They should be given this right - but should not have the final decision in their hands. Therefore it is important to pick a Judge or jury made up of people that are not prejudiced or emotionally driven.

Certain cases also cause great suffering to the criminal before he dies and thus is regarded as inhumane, especially in certain methods such as the poison gas chamber. Yet, they fail to compare death to lifetime imprisonment where the criminal spends his entire life devoid of freedom. It may be subjective, but a fair majority may feel death might actually be the easier way out. The process might be ugly, yet the pain is only momentarily as compared to lifelong torment.

Others claim that no one has the right to play god - no one should be able to decide who should live and who should die. Yet, would they rather letting the criminal go free and await his just deserts god will give him? This not only would be unfair but it also gives the chance for the criminal to harm more people. If no one has the right to kill another - then no one should have the right to imprison another either.

Therefore, i feel that the death penalty is a fair detterent to protect society against crime - especially organized ones as they would take the full punishment into consideration and thus would be intimidated, hopefully persuading them to not commit the crime. Mistakes might occur in deciding if a person is guilty and deserving of the death penalty, or they also may happen should the process of the death penalty have a mistake and cause the criminal to suffer pain, but this is a small factor when compared to the benefits: a extremely strong detterent and a way to mete out justice to the victims. No one denys the death penalty kills criminals, but no one should overlook the number of lives and dollars indirectly saved through it.