Arguments Against Captial Punishment
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 3.2.8
Arguments Against Captial Punishment
Though some people support capital punishment, many people disagree with it. This led to capital punishment being abolished in some countries, like the UK.
The death penalty in the UK
- In the UK, the death penalty was usually by hanging.
- The death penalty was permitted in the UK for serious crimes until the early 1980s.
- But it was effectively abolished for murder cases in the 1960s.
Abolishment of the death penalty
- The last time a person was hanged in the UK was in 1964.
- Up until that time, going right back in history, it was thought right that those who murdered others should also lose their own life.
- It was abolished as a result of campaigns by those who were against it in principle.
- But also by others who pointed to miscarriages of justice. Miscarriages of justice meant innocent people had been executed.
Arguments against capital punishment
- Some say there is no evidence that Capital Punishment has any deterrent effect.
- There is also the concern that innocent people might be executed by mistake.
Moral arguments against capital punishment
- There are also moral arguments, both religious and secular.
- Some religious people say that only God can take a life.
- Non-religious people sometimes argue that Capital Punishment leads to a society that puts revenge before mercy.
- And that the desire for vengeance is an attitude that damages communities.
Test yourself on Arguments Against Captial Punishment
What are miscarriages of justice?