SUB CLAIM 2: A LIFE FOR A LIFE

Some people may agree with the saying “What goes around comes around.” Meaning, the consequences of one’s actions will have to be dealt with eventually. This can be applied to the death penalty. You kill an innocent person, take away their life, your life gets taken away also. In an American study the question “Why do you favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder?”

Out of sixteen options that were given, the statistics above show that an eye for an eye/they took a life, was the highest voted answer. The statistics show in 1991 the percentage for this answer was 50% although when asked again in 2014 the percentage for this answer was dropped to 35%. Yet that answer was still the highest voted. Another poll taken back in 2004 by one news network showed; out of 1,000 New Zealanders, only 28% were in favor of the penalty against 67% who did not want the penalty resumed. I believe it is time for New Zealander’s to follow in America’s footsteps and look at the death penalty with a new state of mind. If the death penalty was produced to the nation with valid argumentative claims then maybe the nation will give the reintroduction of this law a second thought.

In 2007, when Helen Clarke fought in Parliament to work with other countries to put a resolution to the United Nations seeking the abolition of the death penalty worldwide. She stated “Capital punishment is the ultimate form of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, the death penalty violates the right to life…it is known to have been inflicted on the innocent.” The Sensible sentencing Trust’s spokesman Garth McVicar fought against Helen Clarke and said “While there are no calls yet to re-introduce the death penalty in New Zealand, this is simply another example of putting offenders’ rights before those of victims.” Garth McVicar also said he is shocked when seeing victims who have had loved ones murdered. There is no worse form of treatment than that. This argument happened 7 years ago and to this day Garth McVicar still holds a valid point. It is as if we are putting offenders rights before those who have been killed and it is extremely unfair.

I have not found a recent poll taken for NZ in the last two years. It is time to take a new vote for the reintroduction of the death penalty. People’s opinions may be changed to being in favor of the penalty this time, as murder criminals have been let out of prison on parole and taken another life for the second time. Or when mass murderers attack killing over 4 people at one time. But again as I have said many times before, they still get to live and breathe after they have taken one or many lives.