Capital Punishment
Does the Government have the right to “play God”?
While researching this topic, the information available against capital punishment is overwhelming. This alone does not reflect why my attitude and convictions on the subject has changed. The sanctity of life is priceless. It is my belief that only God has the authority to decide
when our time on Earth should end.
Ronald Carlson’s sister was murdered in 1983 in Texas. Before Carlson’s sister’s death, he said he did not oppose or stand for capital punishment. Carlson remembered feelings of extreme hatred for the murderer of his sister. Carlson stated “Watching the execution left me with horror and emptiness, confirming what I had already come to realize: Capital punishment only continues the violence that has a powerful, corrosive effect on society.” (DIPC. n.d.Web. 28 Apr. 2014.)
National Geographic supports an article by Alex Manning, “5 Surprising Facts about the Death Penalty Worldwide.” The five facts are:
1. The U.S. ranked fifth for the highest number of executions.
2. Saudi Arabia saw the execution of one man by crucifixion.
3. China keeps its execution numbers secret.
4. Japan’s executions actually increased in 2012 after a long hiatus.
5. Just 21 countries in the world carried out the death penalty last year. (Manning, Alex. 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.)
According to an article which was published in the Time Magazine and written by Chris Wilson, Executions have been executed in a variety of ways in the U.S. since the early 1700’s , 15,717 people have been put to death under the law of Capital Punishment. From 1700 to 1800, during the Salem witch days, 65 burnings terminated life from 1800 to 1850, 130 executions were done by firing squads. Eighteen-fifty thru 1900, there were 9,183 hangings and from 1900 thru 1950, electrocution became the preferred method to terminate life. Nineteen-fifty thru 2000, 1,205 deaths by lethal injection and 102 by other methods. (Wilson, Chris. 30, April 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014)
Is there a difference between “capital punishment” and the “death penalty?” The web site ProCon.org points out a General Reference (not clearly pro or con). Editor’s Note: “The terms “death penalty” and “capital punishment” are frequently used to mean the same thing. However, some people believe that a difference exits because “death penalty” refers to the penalty received and not necessarily its implementation while “capital punishment” refers to the execution itself.
(ProCon.org. 20 May 2008.Web.28 Apr. 2014.)
Capital Punishment has been in existence as far back as biblical times. In fact, biblical views are what many may base their opinion of the death penalty on. The Old Testament in Exodus Chapter 21 verses 23-25 it reads:
Vs. 23. And, if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life.
Vs.24. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand and foot for foot.
Vs. 25. Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
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