Capital Punishment in Canada

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Capital Punishment in Canada

As violence becomes an increasing concern among Canadians, people are calling for the reinstatement of capital punishment. This controversial issue has been ailing politicians and public morality since its abolition in 1976. As one examines the arguments for and against the reinstatement of capital punishment; examples of modern day cases dealing with capital punishment; and statistics on such cases, one can better appreciate the reasons why this barbaric form of punishment should remain in the past.

Unfortunately, like most Americans, many Canadians believe in the barbaric "an eye for an eye" rule of restitution. This belief is the basis for the argument for the reinstatement of the death penalty. Some believe that the death penalty will deter similar crimes from happening, others believe that they would feel safer if a serious offender would be put to eternal rest. Few, suggests that putting these criminals to death would be more economical then putting them behind bars. But all of these people innately believe that "When you take a life, you give up the right to yours." (Why America kills off killers). Beliefs such as these have kept the United States being the only western, first world, industrialized country to retain the cruel and immoral death penalty. This horrific fact puts the United States Government in line with other major human rights offenders such as China, Rwanda, and North Korea (Why America kills off killers).

Convicted murderer Henry M. Porter offered this statement on his death bed;

"What I want people to know is that they call me a cold-blooded killer. I shot a man who shot me first. The only thing that convict...

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...tem should not be commanded through fear, but earned through compassion.

As seen, capital punishment is a barbaric tool used for centuries to punish wrong doers. As society evolves, so does its beliefs. But many stare so long at the past they do not see the future. People must realize that society has come a long way and capital punishment is a step in the wrong direction. Capital punishment must remain in the past and not in the future.

Works Cited

Kenna, Kathleen. "Why America kills off killers." The Toronto Star. 13 December 1998. A3.

Kuntz, Tom. "Infamous last words." The Globe and Mail. 23 September 1994. A23.

Snell, Tracy. "Capital Punishment 1998." Bureau of Justice Statistics. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/press/cp98.pr. 6 May 2000.

"The death penalty 33 years later." The Toronto Star. 11 December 1995. A16.

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