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Capital punishment is the execution of criminals by the state for committing crimes that are regarded so heinous that this is the only acceptable punishment. Capital Punishment deters murder, and is just retribution.
Capital punishment not only lowers the homicide rate, but its value as retribution alone is a good reason for handing out death sentences. Support for the death penalty in the U.S. has risen to an average of 80% according to an article written by Richard Worsnop, entitled "Death penalty debate centres on Retribution." This figure is slightly lower in Canada where support for the death penalty is at 72% of the population over 18 years of age, as stated in an article by Kirk Makir, in the March 26, 1987 edition of the Globe and Mail, entitled "B.C. MPs split on Death Penalty." The death penalty deters murder by injecting the fear of execution into potential killers. People are less likely to do something illegal if they think that harm will come to themselves.
Another way in which the death penalty prevents murder is the elimination of vicious murderers from our society. If the vicious killer is dead, he or she will not be able to kill again. Most supporters of the death penalty feel that offenders should be punished for their crimes. Supporters of the death penalty are in favour of making examples out of vicious murderers, and know that the threat of death will indeed be enough to lower the crime rate. According to Isaac Ehrlich's study, published on April 16, 1976, eight murders are deterred for each execution that is carried out in the U.S.A. He goes on to say, "If one execution of a guilty capital murderer deters the murder of one innocent life, the execution is justified." To most supporters of the death penalty, like Ehrlich, if even just one life is saved, for countless executions of the guilty, the executions are justified. The theory that society engages in murder when executing the guilty is considered invalid by most supporters, including Ehrlich. He feels that execution of convicted offenders expresses the great value society places on innocent human life.
In a 1986 study done by Professor Stephen K. Layson of the University of North Carolina, the conclusions made by Ehrilich were updated, and showed to be a little on the low side as far as the deterrence factor of capital punishment. Professor Layson found that 18 murders were deterred by each execution is the U.S. He also found that capital punishment increases the probability of the apprehension and the conviction of these murderers. According to a statement issued by George C. Smith, Director of Litigation, Washington Legal Foundation, entitled "In Support of the Death Penalty," support for the death penalty has grown in the U.S., as the crime rate increased. In 1966, 42% of Americans were in favour of capital punishment while 47% were opposed to it. Since the crime rate United states has increased, support for the capital punishment has followed suit. In 1986, support for capital punishment was 80% for and only 17% against with 3% undecided, but most of the undecided voters said they were leaning toward a pro-capital punishment stance if they had to vote on it immediately.
Let us now focus on Canada. The last two people to be executed in Canada were Arthur Lucas and Ron Turpin. They were executed on December 11, 1962. These executions in Canada were carried out by hanging.1 The death penalty was abolished in Canada in 1976 after a debate that lasted 98 hours. Capital punishment was only defeated by 6 votes. If we look back to 1976, the year the death penalty was abolished in Canada, threats of death were being made to Members of Parliament and their immediate families from pro death penalty advocates. Most members of parliament voted according to their own personal feelings, rather than the views of Canadians.2 The same was the case in British Columbia, where accepting the death penalty, if it was reinstated in 1987 by the federal government, was discussed. The MPs were split: 17 out of 29 were for the death penalty. This showed that even the majority of the MPs were in favour of the death penalty in B.C. Support for the death penalty in British Columbia at the time was almost 70%, but the MPs felt that it was up to them to vote according to what they felt was right, not to what a majority of Canadians wanted.3
In 1987, the Progressive Conservative government wanted to hold a free vote on the reinstatement of capital punishment, but Justice minister Ray Hnatyshyn, who was opposed to it, pressured the MPs into voting against the bill. Ray Hnatyshyn was the deciding factor. If not for him, it was widely believed that the reinstatement of capital punishment would have gone through, and the death penalty would be a reality today.4
Capital punishment is such a volatile issue, and both sides are so deeply rooted in their views that they are willing to do almost anything to sway all of the people they can to their side. But the truth is that capital punishment is a valid deterrent to crime, and obviously the public, and society as a whole are in favour of it. His views are backed up by proof, in the form of studies by the likes of Isaac Ehrlich's in 1975 and Prof. Stephen K. Layson's in 1986, and polls that have been taken both in Canada and the United States over the past few years.
The death penalty makes potential capital offenders think about whether committing a crime is really worth their lives. Even if capital punishment does not deter crime, it will allow society to get even with vicious murders. Capital punishment also provides peace of mind because it insures that these vicious murderers will never kill again.
A wealth of empirical evidence has revealed that capital punishment deters crime. The American states that have adopted this means of deterrence have experienced a substantial drop in their average homicide rates. Empirical evidence has also shown that a vast majority of Canadians support the death penalty.
In respect of Canada's fine democratic tradition, why not offer Canadians themselves the choice, in a referendum. Ask "Do you support the use of capital punishment (the death penalty) in response to heinous capital crimes?" And a majority of Canadians will place their "x" beside the word "Yes." 72 per cent, and perhaps higher, will make the decision they know to be the right one for all Canadians.
1 "Take Notice," Copp Clarke Pitman Ltd. 1979, 163.
2 David Vienneau, "Debate Agonizing for MPs," [Toronto] Toronto Star. 24 Mar 1987.
3 Kirk Makir, "BC MPs Split on Death Penalty Debate." [Toronto] Globe and Mail. 26 Mar 1987.
4 Hugh Winsor, "Debate on Death Penalty placed on hold." [Toronto] Globe and Mail. 29 Apr 1987.
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