Life

The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, is the practice of putting a person to death as a punishment for a crime they have committed. It has been used throughout history and is still used in many countries today. However, there is a growing movement to abolish the death penalty. In this post I will argue that the death penalty should be abolished.

The first reason to abolish the death penalty is that it is not an effective deterrent to crime. Many people assume that the death penalty will deter potential criminals from committing serious crimes, but there is no evidence to support this claim. In fact, research has shown that the death penalty has no more of a deterrent effect than other forms of punishment, such as life imprisonment.

Secondly, the death penalty is inherently flawed because it is irreversible. Once a person has been executed, there is no way to undo the mistake if it is later discovered that they were innocent. This has happened many times throughout history, and it is likely that innocent people have been executed even in the modern era. The risk of executing an innocent person is simply too great to continue using the death penalty.

Furthermore, the death penalty is often applied in a discriminatory manner. Studies have shown that people of color and those who are poor are much more likely to be sentenced to death than those who are white and wealthy. This raises serious questions about the fairness of the criminal justice system and whether the death penalty is being applied in a just and equitable manner.

Another reason to abolish the death penalty is that it is very expensive. In many cases, the cost of prosecuting a death penalty case is significantly higher than the cost of a case where the defendant is sentenced to life in prison. This is because death penalty cases require extensive appeals and often involve a long and complex legal process. These costs are ultimately borne by taxpayers, who may not support the use of the death penalty in the first place.

Finally, the death penalty is morally wrong. It violates the fundamental human right to life, and it sends the message that killing is an acceptable form of punishment. It is not the job of the state to take human life, no matter what the circumstances. Instead, the state should focus on rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders back into society.

In conclusion, there are many compelling reasons to abolish the death penalty. It is not an effective deterrent to crime, it is irreversible and can lead to the execution of innocent people, it is often applied in a discriminatory manner, it is very expensive, and it is morally wrong. Instead of using the death penalty, we should focus on developing more effective and fair forms of punishment that prioritize rehabilitation and the protection of human rights.

“It is better to be known for what you Love than to be known for what you Hate.” – Paul Darr

There was a conversation earlier that made me say this but I was already thinking on this topic. So often now days hate and fear seem to be used as motivation. Love and hope should be greater motivating factors for actions in our life. After saying it I looked around and didn’t find a similar quote so I am claiming this one for my own and will be incorporating it into conversation and life more.

While there aren’t many clamoring for the work of being the CLC Secretary I thought I would introduce myself for those that don’t know me. 

When I was getting close to turning 18 and getting emancipated from the foster care system I was geeky enough to wonder about voting and political parties. [Yes I know I was an unusual kid.] So I went and looked into different political philosophies and ran across materials from the Advocates for Self Government and decided the principles of the Libertarian Party were closest to mine. 

Over time my personal political philosophy developed further and at its core is the belief that all people are endowed with the ability to choose for themselves and that individual choice should be protected and preserved. Other rights and freedoms I relate back to this central principle of individual agency. I find that Classical Liberalism provides the best framework for providing the most social and economic freedom to individuals and thus the greatest amount of agency for individuals to be able to exercise in their life.

After high school I was a bit idealistic about the role of the military and joined the Army. I should mention this was pre 9/11 and that after 9/11 I got free personal lessons in why using the military the way we did was a bad idea as I was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. So I came out of those experiences and decided that I should support the LP more. At the time I lived in California and I became a county At-Large Officer and later County Chair. I also served on the state executive committee for a term before moving on to Texas. In Texas I took some time learning about Texas and LPTexas before becoming heavily involved again as a County Secretary and member of the state executive committee. I have also served on committees and have supported LP Candidates out here.

Professionally I am an IT Manager at an English Language School. I am married and the father of two children. I enjoy such geeky pursuits as reading, old video games, and D&D. Though much of my spare time ends up in use with my family, church, community, or in helping different parts of the Libertarian Party.

You can read more about my involvement with the LP on my LPedia page at: https://lpedia.org/wiki/Paul_Darr

You can also read more about me personally on my blog when I remember to post here.

Apparently I’m relatively balanced on news sources I look at and interact with according to a look at my Twitter account.