Death as a Penalty!
UNalienable Rights v Death Penalty!
You, as an individual, do not have the right to kill another human being except as a matter of self-defense (or defense of another). Do you agree?
Since the government, at all levels, was created by the people and receives its authority from the people, it raises the question – “Where did government get the authority to give a death ‘penalty’ sentence to anyone – except in defense of society?” If we, as individuals, cannot take revenge or penalize someone by killing them, where did government get that authority?
Government can execute (kill) a person if it is determined that the person would most likely murder another individual if given the chance. If a person commits murder for hire it is reasonable to assume they would do so again – if the price was right. That individual should be executed as a matter of “self-defense” of society. Sending such a person to prison would subject every person in prison and the guards to the possibility of being murdered by that convicted killer!
The basis for our U.S. Constitution is the Declaration of Independence and that document clearly states that “We, the people,” are endowed by our creator with certain UNalienable Rights to “life…”. The prefix UN is the key! That prefix means NOT! Your right to life cannot be taken away except as a matter of self-defense. That is the only authority the people have ever had and the government cannot presume to have an authority the people could not grant to the government!
It is human nature to want “revenge” for the murder of a loved one, but keeping our human nature in check is what civility, valid law and justice is all about.
Each time the U.S. Supreme Court considers a “death penalty” case, the Justices fail to consider the word “penalty” or the presumed authority of anyone to penalize another via execution – killing them.
We put people in prison (restrict their “liberty”) as a means of defending society and the same is true of restricting their pursuit of “happiness” – and all such restrictions are to protect society from the aggressor for a reasonable period of time. Hopefully, while in prison, the incarcerated person will learn to respect the rights of others or become too old to violate the rights of others.
There are many other arguments against government executing a person, not the least of which is the fact that no judge, jury or witness is infallible – they make mistakes! When someone is executed, the mistake cannot be corrected. Society cannot apologize to a dead person and make things right!
Another point in the protection of society is the consideration that a killer is of diminished capacity – insane or under a certain age. What difference does it make to the dead victim if the killer with an IQ of 40 doesn’t and will never know that killing someone is wrong? Society has a right to defend itself from such a person and, depending on the circumstances, has the authority to execute such a killer!
The only justification for killing anyone is “self-defense” and that includes defense of another!
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