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Death Penalty- Right or Wrong?

From time immemorial there has always been death penalty. Jesus was crucified by the Jewish people nearly 2000 years ago, and even that is a form of death penalty. We still have death penalty in some countries, but is it right to take another person’s life? What do the Christians say and what do the people really think?

A rather big question of society of today is the death penalty. In some countries the death penalty is still legal, for example in the USA. Many people think that it is wrong. It’s the ultimate cruel, while other people think of it as a way to prevent crimes as horrible as murder. What are the arguments for death penalty and what are the arguments against, and in the end, are there any arguments that are good enough for every party?

Are they really picking the right persons?

In 2002 at least 1526 people were executed in 31 countries. 81% of all known executions took place in China, Iran and in the USA. In Sweden most of the people are against death penalty, It’s a crime against human rights. Even a murderer and other criminals have the right to life. Research shows that at least 23 innocent persons have been executed in the USA during the 20th century, and over 300 innocent persons have been sentenced to death penalty, but later, they have been released. During 1970- 1980 many countries abolished the death penalty. But still, the list of countries that has been abolishing the death penalty is long, but the numbers of executions are still increasing. In the USA the supreme court forbade the death penalty in the 1970’s. But in 1977 the decision changed and the death penalty was recaptured in many states. Today all states except twelve have it

Death penalty in Sweden.

In Sweden, the death penalty is forbidden since 1921. The last person who was executed was Johan Alfred Andersson Ander. He was executed with a guillotine purchased from France in December 1910. He was executed because of murdering another person. Another man who was sentenced to death penalty was Anton Nilsson. He was sentenced for blowing the ship Amalthea to pieces in 1908. But later on he was released and he lived until he died during the 1990´s, 101 years old.

Death penalty and the Bible.

The Bible says that every persons life is a gift from God. He is the only one who has the power and the right to rule a man’s life. Therefore, according to God’s word, it is always wrong to kill a fellow- being. The whole Christianity is based on forgiveness and reparation- That God, through Jesus, has opened a way for every man, who has done something wrong, to regret and to be forgiven, and to be able to come back to God. The Christianity is also based on love. And in love there is no room for death penalty.

Another way?

But What can we do then, if we abolish all death penalty? Maybe we should let the murderers sit in prison their entire life, or maybe penal servitude for life. You can look at the death penalty in a way that it helps the murderers. It’s maybe just a simple way for them to disappear from everything and get executed. Are there any rights or wrongs, and who’s to decide what to do?