The death penalty – Is it not a deterrent?

People are arguing that the death penalty is not an effective deterrent since the crimes like murder keep on increasing while we still have the death penalty for murder and serious crimes in the law. 

True, the death penalty is in the legal system, but the people know also that it is not being implemented.  So where can there be any deterrent effect?

Our forebears carried out public hangings as did the British after 1815 for the rebels against the State. So it is not a valid argument to draw the conclusion that the death penalty is not a deterrent when it is not being implemented and the criminals and would-be criminals know it.

Let us implement it first and then assess the results. The President is willing to do so. He should go ahead.

R.M.B. Senanayake