Over the years, I have commented on many sites my opinion regarding the death penalty. I will state here categorically that it should be reinstated: In my opinion.
"The Death Penalty has no place in a civilised society"....so the objectors say.... to which I respond with: "We don't live in a civilised society, bring it back!"
Every debate I have joined in, someone, somewhere has come up with that old chestnut: "What if the accused is actually innocent?" It's a good point. And I am extremely mindful of the miscarriages of justice that have occurred in the past. The shocking cases of Peter Bentley. Stefan Kiszko (and his poor mother) The Guildford Four etc etc.
These cases were extremely sad and the result of corrupt Police procedures (And a home Office Pathologist, in the case of Stefan.) fabricating evidence/obscuring evidence.
However, given the advances in forensic science & DNA testing...there is no longer that same risk. It is still a risk...because corrupt people exist at every level:BUT. The need to fabricate evidence is no longer a factor: The evidence on the guilty WILL be found.
Let us remind ourselves that it was these advances that captured Ronald Castree, the real killer of Lesley Molseed and the sender of those malicious letters & a tape to the Yorkshire Ripper investigators, "Wearside Jack" (Which directly lead to the murders of a further three women.) Both were trapped by modern DNA testing.
Sadly, for Stefan, his mother, and three women...it was all too late.
Let us remember too: Stefan was further condemned by false testimony from three young girls.....What kind of a society have we where young people are so easily led into such behaviour?
My view is clear: The Death Penalty should be reinstated for such crimes, such as this recent case of the six-year boy, the "policeman" who kidnapped & murdered a young woman.... These 'people', to name but two, have failed as human beings. They no longer should be breathing the same air as the rest of society, because society would be improved by their removal.
First Degree Murder: First Degree Punishment.
(Incidentally: Another argument I have heard against the Death Penalty is that "it costs more to execute someone than to keep them in prison." Well, I treat that argument with the contempt it so richly deserves: It is not about "cost" it is about Justice. Justice for the victims & their loved ones. Justice for society.
Because with the Death Penalty, we DO have a deterrent: How many innocent people would be alive today, living their lives, instead of lying in a graveyard?)