20 November 2008, 7:11 pm
Teens who murder must be executed -----------In today’s society, there are always a handful of adolescents who lead a corrupted set of lives. Drug dealing, robbing, skipping school, and running away from home are a few examples of the occasional crimes. Homicide, on the other hand is not so common, but can be accomplished by some unlawful youth that is willing enough. The punishment for such a severe crime should not be overlooked, but in fact taken to a higher consideration of punishment. Juvenile detention is not sufficient, some more effectual punishment has to be carried out, the death sentence must be forced on all juvenile delinquents that murder. ---------According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, from 1985 to 1993 the victimization rates have increased by 150%. That means that nearly all of the homicides were committed by juveniles, and more than 386,526 people were killed from 1985 through 1993. If a teen that murdered is close to the age of eighteen, they can be sentenced to life without parole (LWOP), if not they are then sentenced to juvenile detention. Juvenile Detention is highly expensive, with its rehabilitation courses, tax payers payed an additional $ 174.00 in 2007 for property taxes. The public is unwilling to continue to pay for such courses. Yet with another unjustifiable punishment, LWOP is less economical than the death sentence. The website wesleylowe.com quotes, “JFA (Justice for All) estimates that LWOP cases will cost $1.2 million - $3.6 million more than equivalent death penalty cases”. With more than each prison cell costing around $ 40,000 to $ 50,000 annually, and security with each guard at $50,000 or more a year LWOP becomes much more expensive and uneconomical. With such a problem in hand, taxpayers will be put into stress for long and unreasonable taxes. Why should hard working citizens have to pay more taxes in order to support a murderer in prison? Life in prison is not leisure but can be made into a decent living. -------Juvenile delinquents that murder and go to juvenile detention have the chance to be released and kill again. Stuart Harling was a young boy that killed a nurse and threatened to kill again if set free. Stuart had little remorse for his actions and failed to weight the consequences. With such people set free by unfair justice the streets can be loaded with ready to kill teens. Psychiatrist Dr. Philip Joseph stated that “if released he (Stuart) will probably kill again” and Stuart further proved the claim when he stated,” I would do it again”. The only way to remedy and show justice for this crime is by reaching drastic measures. Why should we risk the lives of people again? The death sentence is a final and justifiable punishment for a murder, because it will make sure that a dangerous criminal will not kill again. Some opponents of the Death sentence state that “ it is inhumane to kill a youth” and such, when the reality is that it is inhumane to have a juvenile murderer, out on the streets that can cause harm or danger again, when we know that we can do something about it. “An eye for an eye” seems like the only reasonable punishment for committing the horrendous act of homicide. -------Age should not be used as a complaint for a serious crime like murder. Some opponents respond to this claim with “ teen brains are not fully developed in the emotional region, so in a crime situation, it is more likely that a teen will act out on instinct of anger”. Just because the teen brain is not fully developed in the emotional area does not have much significance. A teen is fully capable of reasoning and action, to know the difference between right and wrong, and analyze the consequences of crime. Any Teen with a logic, and conscience knows that if he/she places his/her hand in an open fire, they will burn themselves, if he/she hits his/her hand with a hammer, he/she will break a bone. But most of all if he/she kills somebody there will be vast consequences. -------The meaning of justice is ”that everybody is treated equally and fairly by the law” that “ the law applies to everybody”. That claim is false, if a teen cannot be trialed as equally as an adult the claim “justice for all” is not real, but simply an idea. The severity of murder is beyond that of robbery, drug dealing, or fraud. Murder is not morally the same, a car can be replaced, drugs can be controlled, but a person’s life will never be returned.... Read More »
Share on del.icio.us
Share on digg
Share on Technorati
Share on reddit
Share on Yahoo!
Share on Furl