Reintroducing capital punishment in Australia would spark a large number of protests and arguing. But the question is why are some people in opposition to capital punishment yet others are in favour of it? There are many factors that we must consider before we have an informed opinion on this issue and wether we believe it is right or wrong to execute a person for killing another person. We know that if someone commits a horrendous crime they have to be punished both morally and legally. They have to be punished to suffer for what they have caused, to deter others from committing similar crimes, to change that persons ways/views of life, to prevent them from re-offending and also rehabilitating them to give them a fresh start. But many people only focus on one factor that constitutes a small percentage to punishment, therefore people form biased opinions.
Retribution is one of the main aims of punishment. Retribution means suffering from the punishment to balance out the evil done. Most of us would agree that a terrible crime deserves a terrible punishment; the punishment needs to fit the crime. Yet this does not necessarily mean execution even though God said to Noah after the flood:.
"Whoever sheds the blood of man,.
by man shall his blood be shed;.
for in the image of God.
has God made man." Genesis 9:6.
God tells us that whoever takes one's life, their life shall be taken, yet it does not say who will take their life. In Deuteronomy God tells us that we are responsible for capital punishment:.
"Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." Deuteronomy 19:21.
God tells us to show no pity if someone kills another person as they deserve done to them what they inflicted on to the other person. Yet Jesus tells us in the New Testament the opposite of what we have just discussed:.
"You have heard that it was said, "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth." But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.