Death Is Not The End

The summer vacation is finally over. While there is still much to catch up to, with a bit of time, we need to get back to writing regularly!

On the 22 of August 2022, two policemen were ambushed and later killed by a runaway convict for the investigation of a stolen vehicle near a cemetery. This was a nationwide incident that raised many discussions such as police training, the prison reporting system, capital punishment...etc. As always, any act of violence incites more hate, rage, and conflict. We could feel the heartbroken pain just by reading about it. There is no doubt that it was one of the worst crimes there is. It was not a shoot-out or money-related. It was murder.

Among the controversies, we are most invested in one, "whether there should be the death penalty or not". For starters, there is indeed such punishment in this country. However, it is often criticized for misconduct, diversionary, or inhumane on common days whereas on days of murders, sexual assaults, and other outrageous crimes occur, the execution of it is often urged. It seems like the outspoken people of cases like these usually advocate "the killing justice", to end a crime by ending the criminal, one at a time.

There are voices for the anti-death penalty groups and the most known one is the TAEDP. For any reason of their argument, they want to get rid of the death sentence. For eternity, there are always quarrels between the supporters and the opposers of this law. To be honest, it's a waste of time because nothing legally has been done. To kill or not to kill, shouldn't be the only question.

Any kind of killing is still killing. To narrow it down, the killing of humans is still considered killing, no matter the cause. In a utopian society, everyone would have agreed that no one is entitled to take the lives of others but we're not in that society. Instead, there are crimes committed every day that challenges our morality as humans. We are terrified of these unnatural occurrences and wish nothing but for the end of them. Thus, we say this with respect to the people who have lost their beloved ones, we do not support legalized killing, known as the death sentence, capital punishment, and other names of the same result.

The purpose of a legal system is to ensure fairness and the functioning of society. It SHOULD set boundaries clearly to prevent citizens from taking actions that could harm others as well as themselves. Moreover, it SHOULD encourage openly on actions that would bring wellness to one another. That said, rules come with consequences for breaking them. The worst crimes deserve the highest level of punishment and it is often thought that death is the worst thing that could happen. We partially disagree with that notion.

On an individual's front, death is not the end of the problem nor is close to a solution. It does not stop the wrongdoings nor is it a means of catharsis. On top of that, taking life on a societal and judicial level does less than stopping and helping. It incites more sorrow and even welcomes challengers. Imagine someone without the fear of death, what threat would this punishment be? It would basically mean that there's no consequence for vice while generally speaking, any law-abiding citizens would cherish their life because they have much to lose but they are not the case here. As a result, good people live in fear of losing and their counterparts live in calm.

Our survival used to be the most important aspect of our lives but that has not been the same for generations. How to live tops not to die and a good example is the low birth rate in most if not all developed countries. People are more evolved to a point that the continual of so-called bloodline matters less and that the doctrine of keeping the human species is of little importance. Therefore, the death penalty does nothing we thought it could do but merely as a quick reaction to another action.

At last, what's really "the capital punishment"? As humans evolve, so should the punishment. Since death isn't the most frightening factor in our lives anymore, the need for a new "correction" should take place. After all, the purpose of rules is not to punish but to correct wrong behaviors or at least isolate wrongdoers.

Evolution doesn't come naturally; it is done by the constant push for improvement. If we want to evolve as better humans, we need to upgrade our ways of everything. Why not start with legalized killing?

How about a chance for the family to meet the culprit?

How about life imprisonment without a chance of parole?

How about we start thinking about ways other than taking lives just like murders?

If there must be a death penalty... it should not be from the law.