For example, a thief could be executed for stealing food, or for stealing goods, such as a lace handkerchief. By the end of the century, capital punishment was only in use for two main kinds of offence - murder and treason. .
In 1965, Parliament abolished capital punishment for murder. The punishment for murder is now life imprisonment. This means that the accused can spend anything up to 30 years in prison, although on average it is 10 years.
Capital punishment can still be used for cases of treason. However, a traitor is nowadays more likely to be charged with an offence under the Official Secrets Act, which does not carry the death penalty.
There are many different arguments for and against the death penalty, many of which I shall discuss and consider before deciding on my opinion.
Some Christians feel that they are no longer bound by the legal codes of the Hebrew Scriptures, and that the death penalty is no longer required. Since the bible was written, as society became more tolerant, we eliminated the death penalty for pre-marital sex, practising a different religion, engaging in prostitution, homosexual behaviour and blaspherny among others. Therefore many Christians feel that we should eliminate it for murder aswell.
"As I read the New Testament, I don"t see anywhere in there that killing bad people is a very high calling for Christians. I see an awful lot about redemption and forgiveness" Says James W.L Park, former execution officer, San Quentin, California.
Many people feel that capital punishment involves an inhumane method of execution. Methods include hanging, gas guillotine, injection, electrocution, shooting and stoning. Many people feel that capital punishment would be more acceptable if a more humane method of execution was devised.
Some feel that permitting premeditated murder is totally unacceptable, even if done by the state. Capital punishment lowers the value of human life as seen by the general population and brutalises society.
