ALL SAINTS’ COLLEGE
Ewing Avenue, Bull Creek, Western Australia
YR.10 CRAVE
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
27/6/05
Capital punishment is the term used to describe the execution of criminals.
There are many different forms of capital punishment. For example, lethal
injection, the electric chair, hanging, the firing squad, and beheading.
The debate as to whether capital punishment is right or not is an emotive one.
When faced with a truly violent and sickening crime it is often difficult for
people to think rationally about a fitting punishment. When criminals commit
serious crimes, many people in society demand revenge.
Assume a man raped and then strangled to death an elderly woman. When
caught it was discovered he was responsible for numerous other violent
murders.
TASK 1) Explain whether you think such an individual should be locked away in prison,
or simply executed for this crime?
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In the past virtually every country in the world executed criminals. In the last century many
countries chose to abolish capital punishment, believing it to be inhuman and uncivilised.
Today around half of the countries in our world still enforce the death penalty. The majority
of these are developing nations, though there are some exceptions such as the United States.
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The English abolished capital punishment for ordinary crimes in 1965, the last
execution was held in 1964, and in 1998 capital punishment was abolished for all
crimes.
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In Australia capital punishment was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1984, the last
execution was held in 1967, and in 1985 capital punishment was abolished for all
crimes.
There are clear signs that capital punishment is slowly being phased out globally. At the turn
of the 20th century only three countries had permanently abolished the death penalty for all
crimes. Today, at the beginning of the 21st century, over half the countries in the world have
abolished the death penalty in law or practice. Once abolished, the death penalty is seldom
reintroduced.
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It is interesting to note that in most countries where capital punishment has been abolished,
the majority of the public remain in favour of keeping it. There must therefore be strong
reasons for governments to abolish this practise if the general public are still in favour of it.
ARGUMENTS FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
There are many arguments people raise to support the use of capital punishment:

Justice / Revenge - if you take the life of an individual then you lose your own right to
live, justice is served
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Protects society – if executed, there is no danger of the criminal re-offending
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Deterrence – the death penalty discourages people from committing serious crimes
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Cost - why should tax payers have to fund prison expenses for serious criminals

History – countries have used the death penalty for centuries so why abolish it now?
TASK 2) Which of these arguments do you think is the most convincing? Explain why…
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ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE USE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Most arguments put in favour of capital punishment are not as straight forward as they might
initially appear. Re-examine them along with the counter arguments and see if you still think
they are convincing…

History – countries have used the death penalty for centuries so why abolish it now?
Just because something has been in existence since the beginning of time this does not make it
right. Slavery has been in existence since the beginning of time, so has rape, but this doesn’t
make them right.

Cost - why should tax payers have to fund prison expenses for serious criminals
The various legal appeals made on behalf of defendants on death row in America can exceed
in cost the funding for life imprisonment. Capital punishment is often actually more costly for
the taxpayer (note that this only applies in developed countries)

Deterrence – the death penalty discourages people from committing serious crimes
Many countries abolished the death penalty toward the end of the last century. They were
careful to monitor the number of serious crimes. If the death penalty really did deter people
from committing serious crimes then we would expect an increase in serious crimes once the
death penalty was abolished. Time and again the statistics showed there was no increase, thus
proving that the death penalty does not act as a deterrent.
There is a reason for this, most serious crimes such as murder are what we call ‘crimes of
passion’. That is to say they are not premeditated (pre-planned). Crimes of passion are spurof-the-moment acts involving family rows, domestic violence, drunken brawls...etc
These crimes are carried out in the heat of the moment, the person committing the crime is not
thinking about the consequences of their action at the time.

Protects society – if executed, there is no danger of the criminal re-offending
Critics of the death penalty argue that we do not need to kill people in order to protect our
society. If a criminal is locked in prison for life they pose no threat.
However, it might not be as simple as this. Criminals could commit offences in prison, they
could be let out on parole after many years and then re-offend; or they could escape and reoffend.

Justice / Revenge - if you take the life of an individual then you lose your own right to
live, justice is served
Critics of the death penalty argue that it is inhumane, brutal, and uncivilised. They say that
capital punishment is hypocritical as the law condemns murder, and then goes on to murder in
the name of the law.
Once again this is not straightforward. The motive of the criminal and the motive of the state
are different. There is a clear difference between murdering for money or sex or enjoyment,
and executing a criminal in order to protect society.
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There are further arguments which people raise in objection to capital
punishment:
There have been many cases where an innocent victim has been wrongly
executed; clearly there is nothing that can be done when such a mistake has
been made.
Capital punishment makes a mockery of the idea of reform, it assumes that an
individual cannot change and robs them of the opportunity to do so.
Whether we like it or not much of our morality in the west stems from
Judaeo-Christian influences, particularly the ten commandments, the sixth of
which states: "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13).
TASK 3) Which of these arguments do you think is the most
convincing? Explain why…
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TASK 4) Has your response to the question in TASK 1 changed now that you have
studied the various arguments and facts? Explain why or why not…
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CHRISTIAN VIEW
In the Old Testament Law it is written: "Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth"
(Deuteronomy 19:21). When this was written the most common reason for punishment was
retribution (revenge). However, Jesus taught people that this was the last thing that they
should seek: "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you,
Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the
other also" (Matthew 5:38-39).
To secular (non-religious) people it seems strange to forgive those who have
wronged us, yet in the Lord's Prayer it is written: "Forgive us our sins as we
forgive those who sin against us" (Matthew 6:12). This means that Christians hope
God will forgive them for the things that they have done wrong in life. Of course they
cannot expect God to forgive them for their sins, if they are not willing in turn to
forgive those who wrong them: "For if you forgive men when they sin against
you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men
their sins, our Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15).
TASK 5) Turning the other cheek (i.e. not reacting when you have been wronged) is
controversial. Can you think of any advantage for not seeking revenge?
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Christians look to the teaching and example of Jesus when they require guidance in moral
issues. Thankfully there is much He did and said which can help them. In relation to capital
punishment the classic example of Jesus demonstrating forgiveness was with the woman
caught in adultery, according to the Law she should have been stoned to death:
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made
her stand before the group and said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of
adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?'
[Jesus replied:] 'If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her' ...
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus
was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman,
where are they? Has no-one condemned you?' 'No-one, sir,' she said. 'Then neither do I
condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin'. (John 8:3-11)
Taking the life of someone who has sinned or done wrong denies them the opportunity to
reform (change). It also robs them of the chance to repent to God (say sorry for their sins).
Jesus made it clear that the reason He came to earth in the form of a man was to help those
who had turned away from God through sin. It is precisely those who have sinned that need
His help: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the
righteous, but sinners". (Mark 2:17)
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In the Gospel of Luke Ch.23:39-43 we find once again a clear example of Jesus' attitude
toward law-breakers. The criminal that repented (admitted to and felt sorry for his sins) was
promised a place in heaven because he was truly sorry, Jesus saw in him the potential for
change. This is even more challenging when you consider that Jesus himself was dying on the
cross, despite being innocent unlike the criminals.
If you ever made the mistake of taking someone's life in a fit of passion which you later
regretted you would not want to be punished by death. If Christians are to follow the
command "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:31), then they should not support
capital punishment. By neighbour Jesus meant every human being, even those who have
wronged us, Jesus even went as far as to command his followers to "Love your enemies"
(Matthew 5:44).
Many people find it strange that Christians are so lenient when dealing with truly evil
criminals. However, they often forget that Christians have a completely different outlook on
life, and in particular what happens after death, when compared with secular (non-religious)
people. Christians are strongly influenced by their belief in an afterlife. They think that our
life here on earth is but a drop in the ocean of eternal time. The way we act now in our earthly
life has a huge influence on our future life in eternity. For this reason Christians are keen to
avoid sinning. It is clear that putting someone to death, even a truly evil criminal, means
going against the teaching of Christ. It is for this reason that most Christians are opposed to
capital punishment. Christians appeal to the sanctity (sacredness) of life. A murderer's life is
no less sacred than the life of any other human being; in their opinion we were all created in
the image of God. Christians believe that wrongdoers will ultimately receive their
punishment: "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is
written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19).
TASK 6) Why do Christians feel that they are not in a position to judge the lives of those
who have done wrong?
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The very essence of Christian teaching is love and forgiveness. For this reason it is hard to see
how a Christian might support capital punishment. Christians accept that criminals need to be
punished, and that society needs to be protected from criminals. However, they do not believe
that executing criminals is the solution. Instead they would favour life imprisonment for
severe criminals. In prison the criminal can receive counselling, therapy, and education, all of
which provide an opportunity for reform (change), and ultimately salvation through Jesus.
TASK 7) How does the Christian belief in an afterlife affect their views on capital
punishment?
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CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WEBQUEST
NB Type your answers to the tasks beneath the questions
TASK 1) Give 3 reasons why Amnesty International is opposed to the death penalty
TASK 2) Read the Facts and Figures and explain precisely how many countries have
abolished the death penalty for all crimes
TASK 3) Read about each of the Methods of execution used in the US and select:
a) Which do you feel is the most humane (civilised) method?
b) Which do you feel is the most inhumane (uncivilised) method
TASK 4) List the countries that still practise Child Executions
TASK 5) Use the link to read about examples of Children and the death penalty note
that you need to scroll down to the sub-heading ‘USA’
a) Do you think race ever played a role in the US when juries sentenced people to death?
Explain your answer
b) Identify two common themes that appear time and again with many of the children
TASK 6) Read through the Questions and Answers published on the Amnesty
International website to help you answer the following questions. Note you will need to
scroll down to find the relevant information:
a) What problems does AI identify with the use of lethal injections?
b) How does AI argue that capital punishment breaks international law?
c) How does AI respond to the claim that it is necessary to execute certain prisoners in order
to prevent them from repeating their crimes?
d) Why does AI believe it is crueller to execute an individual as opposed to locking them up
for a long period of time?
e) What signs are there that the battle to abolish the death penalty is being won?
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