Radio Transcript

LIFE ISSUES NO. 1586

 CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
 

 Pro-lifers are inconsistent.  If they're really against killing, why aren't they opposed to capital punishment as well as being against killing fetuses?  You've heard this charge.  It's unfortunately one that a lot of people have bought into, and most particularly, the media believes this.  Well, let's look at it a bit.

 Pro-lifers have had a number of responses to this.  The main one goes like this:  Look here - you pro-abortion people are even more inconsistent and somewhat confused.  Many pro-lifers do allow the killing of guilty people but want to protect the innocent.  You allow the killing of the innocent and want to protect the guilty.  Touche!

 But let's look further.  Their charge assumes that all pro-lifers are for capital punishment.  That's not true, as a substantial percentage who oppose abortion also happen to oppose capital punishment.  Today, let's not argue the pro's and con's of such capital punishment, rather let's look at who is for and against.

 There is one very unique study that was done a couple of decades ago that hasn't been repeated, to my knowledge.  Dr. Paul Cameron did this one on women's attitudes on this issue.  He divided them into two groups.  One group favored abortion, one opposed abortion.  Except for this difference, they were pretty well matched.  He gave them a statement.  Here it is.  He stated that capital punishment should never be used.  Of those who were pro-abortion, 6% said it should never be used.  Of those who were pro-life, 26% said it should never be used.

 Then he tightened up the position.  Here's his second statement:  "Capital punishment should be an option for a heinous crime.  This time 83% of the aborters agreed, 54% of pro-lifers agreed.  So, again, we have more pro-abortion people in favor of capital punishment.
 Then he came in with a third question:  "Would you be willing to serve as an executioner--actually pull the switch?"  And again the same pattern obtained.  Only 8% of pro-lifers would pull the switch, but 22% of pro-abortion women would be willing to pull the switch.  His conclusion was interesting.  Here it is:

 He said:  "Our society has been flirting with many different ways to rid itself of people.  Capital punishment fits that pattern.  It is reasonable that those who have taken human life would have less regard for its value.  More and more people have had a hand in taking human life, both in war and on the abortion table - and it's a vicious cycle.

 "As you take human life, you justify your action by holding life less dear.  Then you're led to take even more life, and consequently you hold it in even lower regard."

 So, completely aside from the pro's and con's of capital punishment itself, if his findings do apply to the general population, it's clear that more pro-lifers oppose capital punishment than those who are pro-abortion.

 Hmmm.  Best we tell this to the media, huh?
 

[08/04/97]