As human beings, we are often faced with ethical dilemmas that we consider wrong according to our own code of ethics. No one person is right or wrong for having an opinion. Our own personal code of ethics helps us shape the people we are today and defines our personality. From the time we are able to comprehend what death and murder was, we knew and understood that it was morally wrong and was stated so in the Bible. We ask ourselves this question: “Do any of us have the right to determine who gets the death penalty?” Many are against the death penalty, some are for it, it all depends what side fits their code of personal ethics. Personally, I am against it. The Bible states that “Thou shall not kill,” and I take that literally, no matter what the situation or circumstance. As early as 1700 BC was the first known death penalty laws. The Code of Hammurabi was a legal document from ancient Babylonia. Twenty-five crimes were punishable by death. Some of these crimes included adultery and helping slaves escape. Murder was not considered a punishable crime at this point. 1608 was when murder became a serious enough crime to get the death penalty. The Founding Fathers had included provisions to the Constitution including the Fifth and the Eighth Amendment, and the basic principles of government executions remained allowable under each separate state and federal governments. Thomas Jefferson attempted to change Virginia’s death penalty laws so that murder and treason were the only punishable offenses, but after a stormy debate, legislature defeated the bill by only one vote. Each state could choose to use the death penalty as a punishment if they wished. In 1790, the first person to be executed under US federal law was Thomas Bird (Procon.org 2nd para). Since then, many have fought to eliminate the death penalty, arguing that it is inhumane and cruel. As with any other ethical issues, there will be two sides of every story. I would like to go over some of the effects it has on the stakeholders, and what biblical principles can be applied directly to this situation.

Effects on execution staff
The first time I watched the Green Mile, I was intrigued by how the staff in the prison had seemed so cold towards the death-row inmates. I have often wondered what went through the staff’s mind while performing an execution. During my research, I have found several articles explaining the various issues (both mentally and physically) that staff endure while performing the execution. We are taught as children the Ten Commandments, and with that, we learn that killing is not ok. Although some of these prison guards understand what their job description may be upon hiring, nobody can help them understand what it is like to have a hand in killing a person, and the thoughts that go through their mind during their first execution. Many think that the execution itself will provide closure; for both the staff getting to know these inmates and taking care of their daily routines, to the family, who have been anxiously waiting on word that the execution has been done. Studies and individual experiences suggest that the execution will inflict more wounds than give closure.
Every execution requires a team of workers who watch the inmate in his/her final days, who strap them to the gurney, who insert the needles, who remove the inmates’ body the gurney after execution. The staff deals with botched executions, who struggle with the inmates to stay alive, and who pull inmates away from their family when it is time to say goodbye. (Bessler 58, para 1-5) Those are just a few of the physical demands. The emotional effects can last a lifetime, and can include: Depression, PSTD, substance abuse, withdrawing from friends and family, and lack of job fulfillment. With the judicial system not being right at times, some wonder if the people they are putting to death are in fact guilty of the crimes committed. This not only puts severe emotional strain on the staff, but for anyone involved. Jurors even have the weight of an execution on their plate. They are the ones who chose to put this person to death, and some struggle with that life-changing decision.

Religion Issues
Many Christian men and women struggle with the issue of death penalty and religion. In the Bible, it clearly states “Thou Shall Not Kill.” However, some religion organizations are surprisingly for the death penalty. There has been scripture found in the New and Old Testament Bible that eludes that capital punishment is allowable. As stated in Genesis 9:6, it says: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” This leads others to believe that those who commit murder should be killed by man himself. The issue with the death penalty and religion has been a difficult one, with some religions being for it, and some against it. According to W Berns, those who believe the death penalty is morally correct are: Protestants, Evangelical (Amish and Mennonites are exceptions) and Fundamentalists. Some religious organizations that forbid to support the death penalty are: Amish, Presbyterian, Quaker, Jewish, Catholic and American Baptist. (p.98) Several issues dealing with ethics have been involved with this heavily divided topic for centuries. The ethical problems involved include the general moral issues of punishment with the added problem of whether it is ever morally right to deprive a human being of life. The execution itself is viewed as cruel, inhumane and degrading to human life. Performing the execution itself can cause others to be put in an ethical situation, depending on their beliefs. Doctors are sworn to preserve life, and not assist in premeditated death. According to the AMA, physicians may not participate in any execution, but may certify death in any situation. However, the AMA evaded a major part of the ethical problem. When doctors use their stethoscopes to indicate whether the electric chair has done its job, they are assisting the executioner. (p 28).
Conclusion
The world is clearly divided into half with this century old debate over capital punishment. In the end, what we learned as children, on ethics is what shapes our beliefs, values, and standards. At a young age, we are taught not to kill others. Capital punishment involves all facets of life, from the guards to the family, to the juror that has given the guilty plea. In almost all circumstances, this decision to end a life is not taken lightly and most involved with this decision will ultimately change their life in one way or another, mostly for the negative. Religion and ethics play a detrimental role in deciding on opposition or for the death penalty. While the issue has drawn less interest than in the past, the issue still remains. We need to stick to our original roots as children and decide not to take lives of others and leave that decision to the God above.

References

Berns, W. (1979). For capital punishment: Crime and the morality of the death penalty (p.91). New York: Basic Books

Forst, B.E. (1976). Deterrent Effect of Capital Punishment: A Cross-State Analysis of the 1960’s, The. Minn. L. Rev., 61, 743.

Haines, H. H., & Haines, H. (1996). Against capital punishment: The anti-death penalty movement in America, 1972-1994 (p.7). New York: Oxford University Press.

Zimring, F.E. (2004). The contradictions of American capital punishment (pp. 89-118). New York: Oxford University Press.