Death & Penalty

I was just wondering... Are death penalty really needed?

It started with a 'debate' or rather, discussion with few friends over lunch bout the recent slashing case, esp the first incident at Downtown East. Well, it did seem to bring 'rise' to other new cases of slashers. Even girls suddenly bringing parang around in their handbag. Unnecessary trouble.

So they found the 9th person involved. If convicted, all of them will face death penalty. Such a waste of youth since all these boys are really young. I have loads of what ifs.. But what I believe is, until you knew someone personally who took the wrong path, you will never understand why they deserve a second chance to breathe. I was just looking at this view, it would be 9 people being sentenced to death to justify murder of 1 person. Is that really justice, or rather necessary? Based on their age, most of them prolly found themselves first time being in the hot soup. So many reasons could build up to the unfortunate event.

Contrary to what my friends thought, I'm not siding the mislead youth. They are wrong, indeed. But I'm wondering if there is other punishment rather than death penalty. People do get better,change into a new leave. Of course, we will never know if they will change. But it's a chance. How bout life imprisonment or really long term?

My friends questioned me: What if they don't change? Would you allow your daughter to marry this type of people? What if they abuse your daughter? Who will fund this 'life imprisonment' issue - tax burden?

We will never know.... But it's a chance I'm willing to take that perhaps, at least half of that slashers, realised their mistake. That they are sitting on a thin line, determined by the swing of judge's gavel, whether they will live and get to start new beginning or informed how long more they will see the sunshine and breathe the same air as we did.

And I agree, ocassionally we all need some aggression to reinforce power into the system. With a serious penalty to these bunch of youths, it could be a deterrence to future slashing incidents. But can you promise that? Afterall, we have one of tightest control on smuggled goods and yet, drugs and contrabands still found their way in. Also, knifes are very easy to get hold of.


I reiterate, I did not say they are right nor am I including any racial remarks.
All I'm saying, sometimes second chance is all we need.