The Moral Dilemma of the Death Sentence

There are many instances where a person is executed wrongfully, if this is the case, why do it at all? If a loved one is murdered, and their murderer was sentenced to death, if given the opportunity, would you spare them their life? I believe if you chose not to spare a human life, you chose wrong; I plan on arguing why this is morally wrong, and how it could be resolved.

Let’s analyze a scenario, a woman’s husband was murdered, she is certain that he is guilty of it because he confessed to the murder on the day he was going to be executed. The widow is then visited by the inmate’s wife, begging for forgiveness, and pleading for her to save her husband’s life. Should she save him from being executed or let him be put to death? I would argue that she should not let him die. It goes back to the old saying “two wrongs don’t make a right.” Though she may not see it right away because of feelings of fury and anger, this decision should be made carefully because it will affect the rest of her life. If she were to let him be put to death she may experience feelings of guilt for making the wrong decision, and letting the execution take place. As the saying goes, “an eye for an eye,” is not always the best solution.

Is this not what we try to teach our children as they grow into adulthood? How will she explain to her children that the person who murdered their father was executed, and although she could have prevented it, she did not? She went back on the lessons that people try to teach their children every day; to show compassion, have integrity, and live by good morals. What decisions you make now will have consequences in the end. Therefore, if you make a decision that is out of context, or immoral, it will forever be on your co...

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...at court room he thought to himself whether or not he was making the right decision. Unfortunately, his morals went out of the window, and he chose to do what he thought was best for him. Or did he? Any person with any moral value would struggle with such a choice. Hopefully, sooner than later he will try to correct the situation, but that will be determined by how bad his conscience is getting to him.

In a moral dilemma, someone always ends up paying a price. “What price you are willing to pay?” is the question, I am sure most people ask themselves each time they come across such a dilemma. I believe that you must remain true to yourself and do what is morally right for you, and your family; do what you know will not keep you up at night, in a sense. To make the wrong or immoral decision would be living a life in demise, which is like not living a life at all.