It appears the Democrats decided to underplay the subject of capital punishment in their 2024 platform despite its obvious significance. An interesting flip, considering that back in 2020, Joe Biden, as part of his campaign, announced his intent to ‘work towards the legislation to end the death penalty at the federal level, and encourage states to mimic the decision.’ A strange step to take when one considers the severity of crimes and the necessity of a stringent punishment for heinous crimes.
Biden’s perspective shows that he misunderstands the crucial role deterrence plays in our justice system. He is probably the first serving President who is openly against capital punishment. The notion of abolishing federal death penalty as a ‘humane’ end to his presidency displays a misguided view, disregarding the gruesome nature of the crimes that this punishment might be ordained for.
Biden perversely views the discontinuation of capital punishment as a moral imperative, in fact believing it to be an ‘unconstitutional’ practice. Contrary to this, numerous legal experts uphold the constitutional validity of capital punishment, indicating Biden’s skewed stance on the issue. Moreover, the argument that capital punishment does not deter crime makes little sense. If it supposedly adds no deterrent value, why is it that most democracies maintain some form of it?
The heralded ‘steady decline’ in American support for the death penalty and the decrease in death sentences over the past two decades could be attributed to the persistent campaigning of a vocal minority rather than the sentiment of the general public. The fact that only twenty-four executions were conducted last year compared to eighty-five in 2000 could be more indicative of legislative lethargy rather than the public’s lackadaisical attitude towards the ultimate punishment.
The number of executions carried out this year in only a few states further muddles the issue. If the supporters of the death penalty are fighting for justice, why is justice so geographically limited? From Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas to Utah, these states bear the brunt of delivering the ultimate justice, while others shelter under convenient arguments.
Interestingly, Biden and his allies conveniently ignore that a significant section of Americans – approximately 55%— continue to support the death penalty for convicted murderers. While some people are now questioning the fairness of its use, it hardly means the elimination of capital punishment is justified or supported in its entirety.
The slight edge in believing that the death penalty is applied ‘unfairly’ (50%) as opposed to ‘fairly’ (47%), as indicated by the Gallup Crime Survey, does not make a compelling argument for outright abolition. Similarly, the long-standing argument by the editorial board against the death penalty reflects a bias, diverging from the decisions enacted by the United States Constitution.
Using the pretext of Western Europe and other parts of the world outlawing the death penalty is hardly convincing when it comes to American policy making. Each nation has its unique judicial structure and societal dynamics. The disproportionately applied argument towards certain sections of society is less a testament of the efficacy of the punishment and more an indictment of the systemic issues needing rectification.
The stipulation that the death penalty condemns prisoners to many years of waiting and the potential of botched executions sounds more like concerns over the implementation rather than the principle of the punishment itself. It is convenient to highlight these aspects while overlooking the heinous crimes committed by these accused that led to their sentence.
While Biden’s Justice Department ordered a pause on federal executions in 2021, this does not equate to a ban. It’s worrisome that the Biden administration’s efforts are pushing for less punitive measures against offenders, leading to palpable concern about the ramifications this will have on justice system and public safety.
Even with the supposed moratorium, it’s commendable that federal prosecutors chose to seek the death penalty for the culprits behind the racist attack at a Buffalo supermarket in 2022, arguably a crime of severe magnitude. The inconsistency here highlights the flaws in Biden’s stance.
On the surface, states imposing moratoriums on executions because lethal injections have been botched may have some merit. However, that doesn’t serve as an argument against the death penalty, but rather underscores the need for an improved implementation process.
In essence, the discourse around capital punishment becomes a victim of political maneuverings, misinterpretations, and misguided liberal ideologies. It’s crucial to distinguish between the principle of the death penalty as a form of punishment for severe crimes and the systemic issues associated with its application.
Biden’s Misguided Stance on Capital Punishment Reflected in 2024 Democrats’ Platform appeared first on Real News Now.
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