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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University College, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 20, No. 14. September 26, 1957

[Introduction]

In November we are to decide whether, the death penalty for murder should be abolished or retained. There is need for painstaking consideration to be given to this question, for a decision that either gives or takes away life is the most important that any society can make.

The State hangs murderers for two reasons—as retribution, and as a deterrent. The deterrent theory has been so long regarded as effective by retentionists that much of the moral discomfort which people may suffer regarding retribution, has tended to be dispelled. However, it is now clear that the death penalty is not an effective deterrent. This has been proved by the experience of the many countries which have abolished capital punishment. In addition, the British Royal Commission (1949-53), and numerous eminent legal and medical authorities have shown that the deterrent theory is based on a fallacious analysis of the type of person who commits murder, and the circumstances in which most murders take place.