Instead, Make Them Laugh to Death

The New York Times survey indicating that 10 of the 12 states without the death penalty had below average homicide rates provides a great service to the realization that the death penalty does not deter murder. This is further confirmation of other historic data similarly showing that nations and states with the death penalty often have lower homicide rates than nations and states with the death penalty।

Many have recognized the obvious conclusion that the death penalty does not deter murder. What many have missed is not that the homicide rates are similar but that the homicide rates are lower in areas without the death penalty. It is theorized there are some people a.) of a self-destructive nature who may kill over the subconscious desire to be caught and put to death, i.e. suicide by society and b.) who are thrill seekers whose flaunting of the death penalty incites them to kill. What this demonstrates is not only does the death penalty fail to deter murder: it may even be an incentive in some instances to commit murder.

So long as places with the death penalty have higher homicide rates, we should recognize that the death penalty does not achieve its goal of deterring murder. Indeed, it may be increasing the number of homicides. The death penalty does not work.