Do we need to abolish the death penalty in Europe ?

Problem: Do we need to abolish the death penalty in Europe?

Intro: We are both at odds on this issue, and that is why we are opening a debate

In favour of the death penalty:

Argument 1

Thanks for your argument, I understand your point. However, from my point of view all are equal before the law. A just society requires the taking of life for a life, it makes sense to take “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth."

If someone kills a person intentionally and even does not feel guilty and regretful, it is justified to deprive the murderer’s life as a compensation to the victim and this is basis of logic behind the death penalty that ensures the justice of society.

For example in  2012, an extreme right Norwegian named Breviek landed in an island where a summer camp of students was held, he killed 77 students and hurt 155 victims, he was arrested by police and sent to the court, in the court he was very arrogant and he did an Nazi salute in front of people, after he was sent in jail, he even didn’t feel any regret and behaved shamelessly, he complains every day about the outdated video game box, and the lack of leisure in the jail.

He has brutally taken the lives of 77 young children and even did not have any regret, and his existence is not a justice to the lost lives and their families as well. What would you feel if one of the lost lives was somebody that is close to you? Don’t you want the crucial murderer to have the consequence of losing his own life?

Argument 2

Death penalty is a powerful deterrence to potential criminals and reduces crime rate.

You may argue that humanity and forgiveness are more powerful than death penalty. I also agree that humanity and forgiveness are more and more important in modern society, but to those who are likely to committee vicious crimes, only death penalty can be powerful enough to prevent them from doing that, and this is the only language they understand.

Death penalty was abolished in Europe in the early 1980s, after it’s abolition, unfortunately some serious crimes happened. For example, a teacher, Samuel Paty was killed in 2020, and in this year, unfortunately the same tragedy happened again, and Bernard Dominique became another victim, apparently our mercy law doesn’t deter those crucial criminals. On the contrary, in those countries where death penalty remains in effect, e.g., Singapore and Japan, the vicious crimes are under control, and death penalty as a strong deterrent effect to vicious effects.

Of course life is valuable for everyone, even for criminals, so we need to be cautious about executing the death penalty to ensure that the death penalty is not abused.

Source: https://www.coe.int/en/web/abolition-death-penalty/abolitiiidelielon-of-death-penalty-in-europe

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