On Monday, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed into law a proposal that would replace the death penalty with life in prison without parole. This marked the first time in 40 years that a state has abolished the death penalty. See the AP story at:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gYppYSKRwPNEaUjbxFuUGpS_iouQD8TJV44O2
As expected, many people are lamenting the abolition of the death penalty. If somebody killed someone close to me, I would want that person to die a horrible death. My desire, however, would be based on passion and not on reason or ethics. Many killings are described as crimes of passion. Passion is an extemely volatile emotion and not one on which justice should be based.
Also, there is no reason for the death penalty. It is no more a deterrent than is life in prison without parole. People will argue that society should not pay to keep murderers in prison. Well then, we shouldn't pay for the prescriptions of old people - they are going to die soon.
Ah, but the old people in need of the medications are innocent. The murderers are not. This stream of logic (or lack thereof) brings me to ethics. The argument against abortion and euthanasia is that all life should be allowed to proceed until natural death. Abortion and the death penalty are not natural deaths. Ah, but those murderers are guilty!!!! Who are we to be the ultimate life arbiter? Don't pro-life people say that only God can play this role? Yes, we can determine whether or not someone committed a crime, but we cannot and should not determine whether or not someone is to live or die. Leave that role to God.
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