This was not the first execution the cable network highlighted as a major news event. However, the apparent glee that is associated with the execution bears out the barbaric nature of capital punishment. A news report from Canada, where the death penalty has been abolished, asked why Americans found reason to revel in the execution of its people.

Admittedly, arguments for or against the death penalty are not easy ones, and as such take many factors into consideration. Take the case of Muhammad, those in favor of the death penalty, make reference to the havoc and fear that the man caused in the Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland area in 2002, when he and his young accomplice went on a shooting spree hitting people, including, children, at random.

A religious perspective creeps into the argument, with those in favor of the death penalty, crying out “An eye for an eye.” But those against also take a religious perspective, postulating, “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.”

Those who oppose the death penalty are saying that killers like Muhammad should be punished with life imprisonment, under severe consequences. After all, putting a killer to sleep with a relatively painless lethal injection is like offering that killer mercy, putting him out of his misery and guilt, and doesn’t really provide the victim’s families with any sense of healing.

One of the strongest arguments against the death penalty is that innocent people can be convicted despite advancement in DNA and other scientific evidence gathering. And, unlike a life sentence, death is irreversible.

The question, however, is when will the U.S. Supreme Court really take a decisive stand on banning or permitting it in all states? Some states, like Florida, are consistently debating the pros and cons of the death penalty, while other like Texas execute regularly.

A South Florida columnist commenting on the death penalty sees it as contradictory, whether people are Liberals or a Conservatives. Conservatives favor the death penalty, but are against abortion; while Liberals favor abortion, but are against the death penalty.

Regardless, this issue is filled with passion and emotions. Certainly, all those who lost loved ones in Muhammad’s killing spree are passionately in favor of the death penalty, while these same people may argue against it in cases that do not affect them directly.

There are valid arguments for life sentence without parole for killers.  It presents plenty time for a killer to agonize over his deeds while waiting for nature to execute its ultimate death penalty. Moreover, studies have shown that it is much more economical to punish a killer with a life sentence than to execute the killer, which involves high legal and other costs paid by the state.

It also seems, extremely contradictory, that as the Obama administration rallies against torture in U.S. prison camps, and any mistreatment of these prisoners, the country is making a national media spectacle to execute a killer. Something seems definitely wrong with this picture.

At least, until there’s a decision against capital punishment nationally, no media should be allowed to carry live news related to a public execution. This is extremely barbaric, and definitely contradicts the current administration’s support of human rights.

Besides, after all these years there is no real evidence that capital punishment is a deterrent for crime. People kill for a variety of reasons, and most seem to be unconcerned with deterrents.

It would be encouraging if the U.S. Supreme Court would soon revisit the issue of capital punishment and make a firm ruling. If this administration is serious about supporting human rights, and there is no reason to think it’s not, it must get the message to judges that any positive effects of capital punishment are long gone, and there are more humane ways to punish a murderer, despite the gravity of the crime.

When a loved one is murdered, naturally, we want blood, but the state should not have the right to decide to take the life of the perpetuator. Life in prison with hard labor may be just the punishment for murderers. Losing freedom could be tantamount to losing one’s life.

This was not the first execution the cable network highlighted as a major news event. However, the apparent glee that is associated with the execution bears out the barbaric nature of capital punishment. A news report from Canada, where the death penalty has been abolished, asked why Americans found reason to revel in the execution of its people.

Admittedly, arguments for or against the death penalty are not easy ones, and as such take many factors into consideration. Take the case of Muhammad, those in favor of the death penalty, make reference to the havoc and fear that the man caused in the Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland area in 2002, when he and his young accomplice went on a shooting spree hitting people, including, children, at random.

A religious perspective creeps into the argument, with those in favor of the death penalty, crying out “An eye for an eye.” But those against also take a religious perspective, postulating, “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.”

Those who oppose the death penalty are saying that killers like Muhammad should be punished with life imprisonment, under severe consequences. After all, putting a killer to sleep with a relatively painless lethal injection is like offering that killer mercy, putting him out of his misery and guilt, and doesn’t really provide the victim’s families with any sense of healing.

One of the strongest arguments against the death penalty is that innocent people can be convicted despite advancement in DNA and other scientific evidence gathering. And, unlike a life sentence, death is irreversible.

The question, however, is when will the U.S. Supreme Court really take a decisive stand on banning or permitting it in all states? Some states, like Florida, are consistently debating the pros and cons of the death penalty, while other like Texas execute regularly.

A South Florida columnist commenting on the death penalty sees it as contradictory, whether people are Liberals or a Conservatives. Conservatives favor the death penalty, but are against abortion; while Liberals favor abortion, but are against the death penalty.

Regardless, this issue is filled with passion and emotions. Certainly, all those who lost loved ones in Muhammad’s killing spree are passionately in favor of the death penalty, while these same people may argue against it in cases that do not affect them directly.

There are valid arguments for life sentence without parole for killers. It presents plenty time for a killer to agonize over his deeds while waiting for nature to execute its ultimate death penalty. Moreover, studies have shown that it is much more economical to punish a killer with a life sentence than to execute the killer, which involves high legal and other costs paid by the state.

It also seems, extremely contradictory, that as the Obama administration rallies against torture in U.S. prison camps, and any mistreatment of these prisoners, the country is making a national media spectacle to execute a killer. Something seems definitely wrong with this picture.

At least, until there’s a decision against capital punishment nationally, no media should be allowed to carry live news related to a public execution. This is extremely barbaric, and definitely contradicts the current administration’s support of human rights.

Besides, after all these years there is no real evidence that capital punishment is a deterrent for crime. People kill for a variety of reasons, and most seem to be unconcerned with deterrents.

It would be encouraging if the U.S. Supreme Court would soon revisit the issue of capital punishment and make a firm ruling. If this administration is serious about supporting human rights, and there is no reason to think it’s not, it must get the message to judges that any positive effects of capital punishment are long gone, and there are more humane ways to punish a murderer, despite the gravity of the crime.

When a loved one is murdered, naturally, we want blood, but the state should not have the right to decide to take the life of the perpetuator. Life in prison with hard labor may be just the punishment for murderers. Losing freedom could be tantamount to losing one’s life.

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