Capital punishment remains a contested issue in many societies across the globe. Many countries have abolished this form of punishment. Such countries believe that the malpractice is unethical. From a personal perspective, capital punishment is wrong because it does not deter criminals from engaging in unlawful activities. More often than not, the malpractice results in wrongful executions. Different concepts and ethical theories can be used to explain why capital punishment should be abolished in the world. Utilitarianism is a powerful theory that can be used to tackle this issue. Capital punishment is aimed at inflicting much suffering.
However, it does not result in happiness. The utilitarian theory justifies specific actions that can produce targeted happiness. The second concept is known as Kantianism. According to this theory, capital punishment treats criminals as a means towards a specific end. That being the case, the death penalty is inappropriate because it does not promote the best social goals.
Deontological perspectives also treat the death penalty as unnecessary. This is the case because it does not support the needs of different members of society. Some arguments have also been presented regarding the ineffectiveness of capital punishment. For instance, such executions are committed without any form of evidence.
The execution of innocent citizens is also common. Racism and prejudice are closely associated with capital punishment. Many religious believers and ethicists believe strongly that capital punishment is morally wrong. The malpractice will not result in happiness. These arguments explain why capital punishment should be abolished in this state. The government should use the above theories to identify new strategies that can deter crime. I strongly believe that these ideas will promote better policies for dealing with different criminal offenses.