Let me begin by saying I am against capital punishment, both morally and intellectually. However, I could never understand the pain that someone who lost a loved one to a brutal murderer must experience. In each capital case there are several characteristics that must be taken into consideration.

What does the murder of another human being accomplish? Did the defendant in question get proper representation? Were biases made because of race, inaccurate police work or faulty testimony? Since the 1970s, over 80 supposed convicted criminals on death row have been released. The reasons vary from police withholding evidence to DNA testing proving that someone else committed the crime. The American justice system has made mistakes. In 1999 alone, the United States killed 98 men and women. This is unacceptable.

I was brought up with a strong Roman Catholic background, attending a Catholic elementary and high school. But by no means do I consider myself a conservative nor do I still identify myself as a Catholic. I am pro-choice and do not believe prayer to be a necessity in public schools. You may find it odd that I am against capital punishment, especially considering my views on other similar issues.

During my junior year in high school I was enjoying a simple and uncomplicated life when something unexpected happened. My friend’s mother was murdered in a car jacking. He was crushed. I will never be able to comprehend the pain, suffering and anger he must have felt. The police made a public announcement vowing to bring to justice the person responsible. And after two months, the police actually did apprehend the murderer. The man was quickly tried and sentenced to death as a result of the overwhelming evidence against him and eyewitness accounts present by the prosecutors.

The story does not end there, though. My friend was not satisfied. Instead, he did the last thing anyone expected. He asked to meet with the man who had murdered his mother. After coming face to face with his mother’s murderer, he did something I will never understand but remains to this day the reason I disagree with capital punishment. My friend forgave the man who had murdered his mother.

My friend, like me, was never a very religious person but he was a person with deep-seeded morals. When I asked him why and how he could forgive this man, he looked back at me and said, “If I went along and let this man be executed, how would I be any different than him.” But nothing was done, nothing could be done and in January of the same year the man was executed.

I do not expect this story to change everyone’s view on the death penalty. Instead I want everyone to understand that capital punishment does not accomplish anything. It is neither a deterrent nor is it a cost effective. So ask yourself what purpose does it serve.
-The writer is a freshman majoring in political science.