How bad is too bad? Heinous Crime Debate.

                Another large debate is the heinous crime definition in capital cases. As many people know the death penalty is only supposed to be used for the “worst of the worst” crimes. One of the questions that I raise is how can we define what the worst of the worst actually is? One person may define it as any murder that is committed; where others may see if as a heinous, methodical, torture some crime. This poses the issue of where the state should draw a line of who actually should receive the death penalty.

                In the studies that I have viewed many cases that receive capital punishment are not necessarily the most heinous crimes. Yes, a murder has been committed but if we are saving it for the worst offenders, I do not think we are administering it properly. I believe that if we absolutely MUST use it, it should not be used as freely as we have given it out. Many cases will be a murder and not have many of the other attributes that make it heinous.

                There are severely heinous cases in which a person has methodically plotted a death or tortured someone to death, which are supposed to be where the death penalty is used. This often gets pushed aside and many murders get tried capitally even if that will not be the best solution. This keeps more and more inmates filing into death row when life without parole or other sentences may be best for their well-being. As mentioned before the death penalty should not be used as a cookie cutter punishment for murders, there should be thought put into every sentence for individuals.

                This could easily occur if two people were shot to death. That person would then be eligible for the death penalty in some states. Is this the “worst of the worst” crime? In my opinion I know someone has died but I do not believe that this entitles the state to take another life. They were shot not slowly tortured or their death plotted. I realize that the perpetrator would be highly dangerous but there would be a better sentencing option in some of these cases similar to these, were the person does not appear inherently evil. There will be different cases though in which a person is evil and it would be difficult to let them continue living. Even in those cases I do not agree with the death penalty, although I better understand peoples need for vengeance with inherently evil people. “A man's errors are his portals of discovery” –James Joyce.