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Opinion

LINN: A Few Thoughts On The Death Penalty

The death penalty, a.k.a. capital punishment. The ultimate punishment for anyone convicted for various crimes throughout history, from murder to adultery. The Judeo-Christian world was no exception, although in the last century there has been a growing opposition to its use. It should be noted that some individuals
opposed to capital punishment (e.g. Joe Biden) are okay with abortion. They claim that being spare the death penalty is an act of mercy. Joe Biden apparently cited this as the reason he commuted the sentences of nearly all federal death row inmates back in December, but, as one of the murder victim’s relatives
pointed out, no mercy was given to those killed.

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism addresses this topic, even giving a couple of reasons as to why Christians are opposed to death penalty, but shouldn’t be, which are as follows:

  • Opposing the death penalty will help the fight against abortion. Although some Christians see being pro-life as being in support of one’s life until natural death, even going so far as to make a trade (i.e. abolishing the death penalty in exchange for an end to all abortions). But unfortunately too many liberals are all in favor of abortion, and thus are not going to make such a trade. And apparently some of them are indifferent to the death penalty, yet they also approve of engaging in violence (e.g. Antifa).
  • The death penalty is frequently abused. Although some countries (e.g. Iran, China, Pakistan) have the death penalty for less serious crimes (if they actually do qualify as crimes), that is no grounds for abolishing it. Sometimes innocent people are executed (or imprisoned), but how often does that happen? Usually the death penalty is given to those whose guilt is beyond a reasonable doubt, such as terrorists, traitors, and murderers (especially heinous murderers).

Meanwhile, there are those who feel that instead of getting the death penalty, the accused should just be imprisoned, so he or she can think about what they did. But the same scenario can be applied to those on death row, given their sentences are unlikely to be carried out immediately, which also gives their lawyers a chance to appeal.

Of course, those opposed to the death penalty are apparently only concerned about abolishing it in America, and thus are indifferent to the death penalty and other inhumane punishments in countries like China, North Korea, Iran, and Afghanistan.

In conclusion, the death penalty is just, whether it be for murder (especially a heinous murder), terrorism, treason, and espionage. In regards to treason and espionage, the death penalty is handed down due to such crimes resulting in the deaths of other people.

Andrew Linn

Andrew Linn is a member of the Owensboro Tea Party and a former Field Representative for the Media Research Center. An ex-Democrat, he became a Republican one week after the 2008 Presidential Election. He has an M.A. in history from the University of Louisville, where he became a member of the Phi Alpha Theta historical honors society. He has also contributed to examiner.com and Right Impulse Media.