Crime and punishment

There is a report by the Associated Press of academic studies that claims the death penalty is a deterrent to murder.The studies suggest that between three and 18 lives would be saved by the execution of each convicted killer.While I am wary of all surveys,studies and polls this one is quite interesting.

The death penalty is considered cruel and inhumane in civilized societies so it has been banned in many.It is also cruel and inhumane for a civilized society to lock up an individual for the rest of his life to languish.It is even more cruel and inhumane to release a criminal, who hasn't been reformed,upon an unsuspecting civilized society. What's a civilized society to do?


It is my belief that in a democratic society,one of the duties of its government is to ensure the safety of its citizens.In a country like the Bahamas,whose economy is based on tourism, the "safety net" must also extend to its visitors.So crime especially murder,can have a devastating effect, not only on law abiding individuals but also to a country's financial stability thus affecting the quality of life.

Let countries decide for themselves whether the death penalty should or should not remain on their law books without the rest of the world labeling them.After all justice is blind and She does have sword!