From a teenager in London...

Would it surprise you to hear about someone, who is alone in a cell for 23 hours a day and waiting for an execution date, to be so positive? Recently, I read a blog about Quintin Jones where he was asked a number of questions; his answers made him seem like such a warm-hearted and real person - one I'd like to be friends with personally.

Reading this blog just reminded me of those in my life who are just so miserable for the smallest things ever like, "OMG, my life's over because so and so isn't talking to me" or "I'm going to die of hunger if I have to wait in this lunch queue any longer" or "I'd rather die than revise for this exam!" Like literally, I feel like shaking them and enlightening them on the fact that they really wouldn't like to be isolated, waiting on news of their death... but I probably wouldn't say it. Why? Because I'm not confrontational and I wouldn't see the point, since they'd only give me pathetic excuses in return.

Many people like the idea of Death Row being back and the idea of 'an eye for an eye'; it really makes me think about how killing someone is the 'right thing' to do - it's giving convicts the easy way out. Harry Roberts, who shot three police officers, did 48 years and spent most of his life paying for his crime. Now that he's out he's a different person and being his age, he certainly won't do society any harm. He's done his time; he deserves to live at least the last years of his life as they're meant to be. I really agree with Mahatma Ghandi and think that an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.

Justice is a very strong ideal and I know that I'd probably be more hesitant on forgiving and forgetting if one of my own was hurt. It's hard to imagine how I'd react if someone in my family died and my immediate reaction would probably be Death Row. It would be hard to think about forgiving someone who had taken away someone who's so close to me. Since teenagers are usually hypocritical, I'm here to prove it - I would probably forgive someone if they hurt my family but they'd need a sentence long enough to repent.

We all need to realize that by killing a murderer, no lives are being saved or returned, and no one learns a lesson from execution. It is only revenge, which isn't going to help anyone. The government have a role to protect society and they definitely weren't given a promotion to taking the role of God - thinking they can decide when to take another human's life. There is no real evidence that proves Capital Punishment is a deterrent; the statistics actually indicate the opposite.

It's hard to imagine writing anything to someone on Death Row; it's even harder to imagine what I'd write to Quintin Jones if it was the last letter he'd read before his execution - especially since he's already so positive and good at making others feel better... what could I possibly say to make him feel better? "Oh, it will be fine soon enough..." because soon enough he'll be killed. If his death is final, his thoughts would probably be on heaven or hell and for someone as positive, kind and as thoughtful as him - I'd tell him that he will be reunited with God.

I think that Capital Punishment is a very cruel, violent and inhumane way to punish someone. I think it is a horrific action that cannot be justified. It's definitely not giving the people, who have done wrong, a chance to reform and it is an irreversible act that could backfire; therefore it should be abolished in all countries.

By Sharaniya, 15.