Capital Punishment in Canada
Abstract
The paper demonstrates the debate regarding the reinstitution of capital punishment in Canada by taking a closer look at the arguments brought forward by both opponents and proponents. It also gives an in-depth analysis of the solutions and the inventions that the government should incorporate in a bid to solve the ever-surging concern of capital punishment in the country.
Introduction
The question of how lawbreakers should be punished or rather the question of the forms of punishment has been in existence since the dawn of humanity. Capital punishment, for example, has long been a form of punishment orchestrated by the government in a bid to minimize criminal activities among its citizens. Many countries in the world have, over the years, been practicing capital punishment as a way of deterring crime and other social illegal activities, and Canada is no exception. Controversy, however, exists on the exact meaning of capital punishment as many religious groups, individuals, lawmakers, and researchers demonstrate or rather highlights conflicting perspectives on the true meaning of capital punishment. According to Hanks (2007), he points out that capital punishment is majorly a government-sanctioned practice that involves a person being put to death as a punishment for crime by the state. However, Cholbi (2006), on the other hand, illustrates that capital punishment is simply a practice whereby a person or people judges whether a person should live or die. Historically, capital punishment for crimes such as murder, treason, and arson was widely employed among many countries such as Greece, the US, and Canada, and it was often considered as the best way to punish offenders and irredeemable criminals. In a nutshell, capital punishment was a penalty for most crimes committed in many ancient countries, but nonetheless, it was never fully applied as the law then provided. Capital punishment has, however, attracted many religious groups and humanitarians who have staged a debated against the act of taking one’s life on the grounds of criminal activities and this fight between the proponents and opponents of this form of punishment have resulted to a heated debate among all the countries practicing this social issue.
Setting
The paper, however, discusses the aspect of capital punishment, the abolition as well as the debate regarding capital punishment in Canada. Many groups and people have offered their contrasting verdict on the issue of capital punishment, that is the reason for and against this social issue in Canada. While the government of Canada fronted or were much in support of capital punishment, the religious groups and leaders offet6red contrasting arguments against death penalty sentences in Canada. Therefore, the paper seeks to take a closer look at the aspect of capital punishment, particularly in Canada.
Scope
The purpose of the study is to basically discuss the issue of capital punishment in Canada by looking into the accounts of both opponents and proponents of capital punishment. This research study gives an in-depth analysis of capital punishment as a social problem in Canada and how most people, both arguing in support and against its abolition, have fronted their claims. The research looks at the capital punishment issue in the entire country and it also clearly ascertains whether capital punishment is equal punishment for violent crimes, whether it is against human rights and more importantly whether this form of punishment is considered as a form of revenge and not basically a means of punishment. The study also incorporates various theories, which includes; deterrence, incapacitation as well as rehabilitation theory. Therefore the scope of this study is to develop an analysis of capital punishment in Canada by offering various claims for and against capital punishment as well as the solutions to this social issue.
Review of the Social Issue
References
Hanks, G. C. (2007). Against the Death Penalty: Christian and secular arguments against capital punishment. Scottsdale, PA: Herald Press.
Cholbi, M. (2006). Race, capital punishment, and the cost of murder. Philosophical Studies, 127(2), 255-282.