Capital Punishment: An Earnest Proposal

For years one of the most hotly debated topics in classrooms and courtrooms across America has been whether the existence of capital punishment is justifiable or not. Does our government have the right to deal out death in justice? Does anyone? What if a mistake is made? Are our current forms of capital punishment cruel and unusual? Is it less financially burdensome on the tax payer than life imprisonment?

All these questions are difficult to answer and everyone has an opinion on them. My question to the reader is simple though. Why can we not choose? It goes without question that by the end of 2009 many Americans’ lives will be tragically cut short, and anyone of us is a potential victim. As morbid a possibility to entertain as this is, it actually provides Americans with the
opportunity to give our opinion on the matter postmortem.

I propose the government issue a very simple document, one which is entirely voluntary to fill out. The document will state that, in the event the signatory is murdered and the alleged murderer is apprehended, the signatory will be either:

1) In favor of capital punishment
2) Is opposed to capital punishment or
3) Would rather defer to the judicial system in dealing out justice.

The court system would recognize this person’s wishes in the event of their death by murder, and would refrain from the capital punishment if so requested. If the deceased believed in capital punishment the prosecutor would then be obliged to pursue the method if feasible given the circumstances of the murder.

This article’s intention is not to take sides on the matter, but rather to propose an empowering of all potential victims. We know murders will occur; it is a sad fact of life in the world we live in. Were any of us to die today, who would be our voice in court? If this simple document were recognized murder victims would have a final say over their murderers’ fates, providing justice for all.