Capital punishment,which is also known as the death penalty, postulates the execution of a person by the state as punishment for a crime. In this case of the death penalty law of Liberia, the act of terrorism, premeditated murder and armed robbery resulting into the death of another person are eligible offenses for the capital punishment. The law underscores the need to vehemently deter heinous crimes against the Liberian people thereby sustaining the rapidly but fragile development obtaining in the country.

Historically, the execution of criminals and political opponents was used by nearly all societies all over the world—both to punish crime and to suppress political dissent. For instance, France under the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, beheaded/executed over eighty-five people(85,0000)at the barbaric guillotine. With the advent of technology, the last execution of someone at the guillotine took place in 1977, the only legal execution method since the French Revolution. Capital punishment in France was finally abolished in 1981. This was the last execution in the then European Community.

In countries that still use the capital punishment or the death penalty, it is reserved as punishment for premeditated murder, espionage, treason, or as part of military justice. In some countries sexual crimes, such as rape, adultery, incest and sodomy, carry the death penalty, as do religious crimes such as apostasy such as those found in the Sharia laws of Islamic countries(the formal merging of the state with religion). In China human trafficking and serious cases of corruption are also punished by the death penalty.

However, nearly all European countries and Australia, New Zealand and Canada have abolished capital punishment. Moreover, most states of Latin America, have completely abolished the use of the death penalty. Notwithstanding Brazil under exceptional cases, allow for capital punishment such as treason committed during wartime. The United States (the federal government and 36 of the states), Guatemala, most of the Caribbean and the majority of democracies in Asia (e.g. Japan and India) and Africa (e.g. Botswana and Zambia)still use the death penalty as means of punishing or deterring crimes. The argument favoring nations who use the capital punishment is based the brutality or violent nature with which the offender without the fear of God or lack of respect or sense of remorse afflict the victim.

Our history (a country returning from brutal war which witnessed the butchering or decapitating of people) can not afford to see more pains inflicted on the remaining poor and distressed population by cowardly armed robbers. They are cowardly criminals because they attack and rob the lest vulnerable people who barely can afford to support themselves in the economically strangulated city of Monrovia. These criminals fail to see logic in attacking the poor instead of affluent where the purpose of their robbery would make little sense. Their concentration on attacking the affluents would enable them to reap more from their crimes then attacking someone at night who had not little to support his or her family.

So we thank the ALLA for its concern for the lives of criminals instead of the impoverish Liberians who are constantly made victims of the acts of the criminals. But we are sorry the death penalty will and must stand. I am saddened by the fact that ALLA is attempting to justify the armed robbery situation in Monrovia by attributing these criminal acts to economics. The fact is armed robbers are common criminals whose motive is nothing but to intimidate and control and pry on the lives of the victims. Even highly industrialized and economically fortified states in the United States practice capital punishment. The commission of crimes is not squarely driven by economic situation because affluent and intellectually qualified people commit heinous crimes.

So we strongly beg to differ with the ALLA and the AI and European Union who are pressurizing the Liberian Government to abolish the popularly hailed death penalty law. These people need to back off and let Liberians fix their broken institutions. We will welcome their support but not their control of our government and people. If we are developed like the EU countries, maybe we will reconsider the law. But for now let our people find solace in sound sleep without the threat of armed robbery.

I know Ma Ellie Is just mad at her children that why she said that.But Ma please reconsider ur decition.Because some people just waiting to star killing inocent people.

Sis.comfort

ALLA is a group of weekly party throwers, burger eating Liberians in the US who are not thinking of returning to Liberia. Liberians are roating under the insecurity of illegally armed men. The best you could do is return home { Liberia } and make your contribution to the Liberian judiciary to improve the system instead of making noise that do not have any practical meaning to Liberians. The EU and other Western countries contributed greatly to the deplorable situation in Liberia that led to the current level of unemployment. The blood timber, gold, diamond, ion ore and other resources they exploited out of Liberia in exchange for weapons has brought us to this point. The EU and others should massively invest in the country to creat employment opportunities instead of waiving debts that Liberia doesnt have money to pay anyway. This act Liberians will see as constructive engagement instead of pressurising our government against their efforts to protect its citizens by abolishing penalty that you only abolished yesterday and some of your western colleagues are still practicing. Infact, about four days ago a Mexican was executed in the US for committing capital crime; WHERE WERE U, EU? President Ellen, please protect our people. To the Armed Robbers, know this, there is a Law and it reads, IF YOU KILL THE LAW WILL KILL YOU. Be warned.

Mr Think Twice