DEATH PENALTYA VIOLATION TO THE RIGHT TO LIFE

For many years, the crusade to eradicate death penalty among nations never ceased.
The reasons are the same, states do not have right to kill, the death penalty does not deter
crime and the death penalty is impermissibly cruel.
However, to really understand death penalty, it is indispensable not touch the value
of life and dignity. The right to life is the most sacrosanct among all rights. Without life, it is
impossible to enjoy any other right. It is inherent, irreplaceable, and not capable of
restoration. So that a life lost is gone forever.
Death penalty is a blatant disrespect to the right to life. Killing an offender as
though there is no other form by which justice can be served is striping the dignity of a
person

The advocates of death penalty believe that death of the criminal is justice for the
victims and their families.


They say that violation of the right to life happens when a person is deprived of his life
arbitrarily, in case of death penalty they say its not an arbitrary deprivation because it is
carried out only after the requirements of due process are fulfilled.
The right to life is the most sacrosanct of all the rights
If we view this at its face and interpret it on word per word basis, it makes sense, BUT NOT
SENSIBLE ENOUGH IF YOU RESPECT LIFE AND ITS SOURCE.If we accept that idea, then
we are saying that, The right to life or LIFE ITSELF is just like any other right, that life is like
any other ordinary thing, its degrading it to the level your most common furniture, your
car, your house. It is co-equalling life to property.But we all know, it is not, unlike a thing,
it is not capable to restoration. Life once taken is gone forever.

DEATH PENALTY DENIES A PERSON OF HIS CHANCE TO REFORM
Only a fool doesnt change his mindIs this even related to the issue at hand? Whether or
not death penalty is a violation of the right to life? Indeed it is, for when a person is
deprived of his life, he can no longer change his mind. It is well settled principle that, the
only permanent in life is change.change or reform. That brings us to the fact that wind
changes its course, everything changes, even criminals so long as they are not fools. For
had they been fools, they should have been confined in mental institutions. Death penalty
denies a person the chance to reform for the better.



















DEATH PENALTY AND ITS MANY FACETS
The crusade to once and for all eradicate death penalty never ceased. The
arguments against it are the same, states do not have right to kill, the death penalty does
not deter crime and the death penalty is impermissibly cruel. These paved the way to
slowly deter execution of offenders, but not totally. Now, one must wonder why with all the
moral, practical and legal arguments the death penalty is still implemented by various
nations, first world, third world, liberated and conservative states. Certainly, there must be
a common ground by which these nations are affirming their stand; some of them believe it
is to prevent recidivism and future crimes. Others argue that it is a means of giving justice
to the victims and their families. However, if we look closely, death penalty is nothing but
remnant of mans primitive beginnings, vices and weaknesses.
Death penalty is wagering at its highest form
Since the beginning of time, man is drawn towards the game of chance, always
searching for ways to easy money, shortcuts and the like. Death penalty is basically
gambling in its highest form. At stake in the game is a hope that future crimes and
recidivism are deterred, and the bet life of an offender. So far, there has been no
conclusive proof that the capital punishment deters future crimes. In the game of death
penalty, the implementers lay as a wager the life of an offender generalizing that man is
basically afraid to die. However, to generalize that man will not commit a crime because of
fear of death should not be presumed, for if it is true, there should have been no suicide
bombers.
Recidivism by the offender, on the other hand can be deterred, but death is not the
only way by which an offender can be stopped. Reclusion perpetua with no parole is
available. Hence, there is no reason why a life should ever be wagered for an uncertain
cause.
Death penalty quenches the thirst for revenge
The Bible adage an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth has always been used by
death penalty supporters to rationalize their advocacy. They believe that heinous crimes
just have to be punished by execution. While it is true that an offender should be punished,
it does not mean that they should be punished by death. Pro-death penalty advocates fail to
take cognizance that justice is not trade and life is not a commodity.
Life should not be traded for the wrongdoing committed, for life is priceless and
thus beyond the commerce of man. One cannot say that a certain crime is equivalent to the
value of life for it being beyond price it should not subject to barter, trade, agreement or
even legislation. For if a man desire death to another man who have wronged him. It is no
longer justice, but retaliation. Clearly, in this millennium age remains primitive beasts
among us whose thirst can only be quenched by revenge.
Death penalty is a form of primitive entertainment
History will tell that since the beginning of time, death penalty already existed.
People were killed in public places and even the public took part in killing in case of stoning
a person to death. Who could forget the coliseum in Greece where gladiators fought for
their lives as the crowd wager on who lives and who doesnt. It is a public spectacle. The
only difference now is that in case of execution by electrocution or lethal injection, they are
reduced to private viewing. But it is the same thing killing a person for other people to
watch and for others to know. Some people just love the genre of horror and violence. No
person in a lucid state of mind will admit that he is thrilled by witnessing death.
Nevertheless, its undeniable that once upon a time and up to this day and age, man has
shown and still is showing his appreciation to the gruesome and its remnant is still seen in
the form of death penalty.
CONCLUSION
I believe in ending the wrong, the violent and the unjust but I certainly do not
believe in the death penalty. For killing the terrorist will not end terrorism and killing
murderers will not stop future murders. What should be ended is not life but distorted
ideas. An idea is the fuel that powers mans actions; it is the thrust that propels them to an
objective. With a violent, greedy, wicked mind-set, some people fall victims of murder, rape
and robbery. Executing the offender will only kill the instrument of the crime but not thrust
that propel the crime.
Corollary, reformation or change kills or reverses an evil idea. If during incarceration, an
offender reformed for the better, that is when a wicked idea is defeated. When realization
comes that what he has done is wrong, that is when a wicked thought is cut at its grass root.
But how would this materialize if a man is denied of his chance to reform or change for the
better? Change is a law of nature, anything and everything changes and there is no
exception to that rule, not even the offenders. A classic example of a person changing for
the better is Tookie Williams, who was sentenced to death for killing four people being the
leader of a gang called Crips. In his stay in prison, he was even nominated for nobel peace
prize for paving the way for a truce between gangs Crips and Bloods and helped educate
teenagers and children against joining gangs and also co-authored several childrens books.
Lastly, the non-imposition of death penalty is not at all to deprive justice to the poor
victims but as human person separated from the rest of the animal kingdom, it is
imperative that the dignity of every person is recognized in implementing punishments.
Dignity which is an intrinsic value in every human person is what divides us from the
animals. It is wrong to believe that to commit a crime or offense will degrade a human
person to the level of an animal thus warranting the imposition of the capital punishment.
For a human person will always be a human person because of dignity which is neither
increased by education and good deed nor decreased by an offense committed. An offender
may not be living up to his dignity but that does not mean that he has lost it.
God gave man dominion or authority through the governments to promote order
and peace. But as we recognize the aid of the Almighty God in building just and humane
society, let us not forget that not is only our God a God of justicebut more a God of mercy
and compassion.