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The Death Penalty Debate Essay
In the United States, the use of the death penalty continues to be a controversial issue. Every election year, politicians, wishing to appeal to the moral
sentiments of voters, routinely compete with each other as to who will be toughest in extending the death penalty to those persons who have been
convicted of first–degree murder. Both proponents and opponents of capital punishment present compelling arguments to support their claims. Often
their arguments are made on different interpretations of what is moral in a just society. In this essay, I intend to present major arguments of those who
support the death penalty and those who are opposed to state sanctioned executions application . However, I do intend to fairly and accurately...show
more content...
In view of these safeguards, proponents of capital punishment believe that state executions are justified sentences for those convicted of willful
first–degree murder. They do not think sentencing murderers to prison is a harsh enough sentence, especially if there is the possibility of parole for the
perpetrator. A final argument posed by proponents of thedeath penalty is that execution is an effective deterrence. They are convinced that potential
murderers will likely think twice before they commit murder. Despite the rhetoric of politicians for the increased use of the death penalty, a number of
prominent individuals and organizations have emerged to express their opposition to capital punishment. Along with families of death row prisoners,
the International Court of The Hague, the United Nations, Amnesty International, the Texas Conference of Churches, Pope John Paul II, Nobel Peace
recipient, Bishop Tutu, numerous judges and former prosecutors, former Attorney General, Ramsey Clark, actors, and writers are waging a determined
struggle against the death penalty. They invariably argue that capital punishment is wrong and inhumane. Religious folk generally evoke the nature of
an "ideal spiritual community" (Cauthen, 1). Within this perspective, a moral and ethical community does not insist on a life for a life. While a
community must act to protect law– abiding citizens, an ethical response would be to
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
The Death Penalty Debate Essay
The Death Penalty Debate
The issue of the death penalty is widely disputed. So disputed that maybe I shouldn't have picked this topic. But nevertheless, the death penalty is an
issue that needs to be addressed. Should the death penalty be abolished from our criminal justice system? Well, that depends on whom you ask. If you
ask me... no. I personally don't see anything wrong with the death penalty because there are a lot of criminals that are just too dangerous to society and
death is the only punishment they deserve.
I know that it is in the eighth amendment that prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, and I can't think of a greater punishment for a crime than death,
but I believe that exceptions should be made.
Despite U.S....show more content...
The most recent state to enact a death penalty law was New York in 1995. As of January 1998, 38 states and the federal government havecapital
punishment laws in effect. Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia,
and Wisconsin do not have a death penalty. (http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/just/death/)
Death penalty advocates argue that the execution of convicted murderers deter others from committing murder for fear that they will also be executed,
and also that murderers will be incapacitated: once dead, they will have no opportunity to commit additional murders. Death penalty opponents dispute
the deterrent effect of capital punishment, arguing that few murderers rationally weigh the possibility that they might face the death penalty before
committing a murder. Finally, death penalty opponents do not dispute that execution incapacitates executed murders, but argue that life imprisonment
without possibility of parole is equally incapacitating. (Jacob Sullum, Los Angeles)
I do not agree with this statement. I couldn't think of punishment worse than death. If I were a criminal I
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Death Penalty Debate
Death Penalty Debate Paper
BCOM/275
The death penalty is an issue that has continually created conflict in today's society. Many people arguing whether or not the death penalty should exist.
Who's to say whether the death penalty is a form of justice and therefore a valid and appropriate punishment or whether it is a "cruel and unusual" form
of punishment.
"The Arizona Supreme Court threw out the death sentences for a Tucson man who bludgeoned his girlfriend and her two children to death in 1984
after lying in wait for each of them, ruling that the murders weren't especially heinous even though they were "atrocious" and "senseless"." (Associated
Press 2012) That statement gives the illusion to potential...show more content...
It is unlikely that any research predicated primarily on current U.S. statistics can discover a trustworthy connection between homicide and execution
rates. (Liptak, 2007)
Con
The most compelling comparison made by Profesor Wolfers is Canada has not used capital punishment since 1962. However, the homicide rates in the
U.S. and Canada are comparable since then, counting the four–year death penalty suspension in the U.S. in the 1970s. (Liptak, 2007)
Does the death penalty really help deter crime? The theory of deterrence is based on the idea that the threat of punishment must be severe enough to
counter the benefits or pleasures that the criminal would receive from the crime. In addition, the punishment must be administered swiftly so that
potential criminals will see a clear cause and– effect relationship between the crime and the punishment. The death penalty would be considered a
specific deterrence. As a result of their punishment, the criminal can not commit further crimes. There is no doubt that capital punishment serves as a
specific deterrent: The executed criminal will never kill again. However, experts and others have long debated whether capital punishment is a more
effective general deterrent than life in prison.
Some opponents of the death penalty argue that instead of deterring crime, capital punishment actually increases murder rates because the state, through
executions, devalues human life. Another argument for the
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

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The Death Penalty Debate Essay

  • 1. The Death Penalty Debate Essay In the United States, the use of the death penalty continues to be a controversial issue. Every election year, politicians, wishing to appeal to the moral sentiments of voters, routinely compete with each other as to who will be toughest in extending the death penalty to those persons who have been convicted of first–degree murder. Both proponents and opponents of capital punishment present compelling arguments to support their claims. Often their arguments are made on different interpretations of what is moral in a just society. In this essay, I intend to present major arguments of those who support the death penalty and those who are opposed to state sanctioned executions application . However, I do intend to fairly and accurately...show more content... In view of these safeguards, proponents of capital punishment believe that state executions are justified sentences for those convicted of willful first–degree murder. They do not think sentencing murderers to prison is a harsh enough sentence, especially if there is the possibility of parole for the perpetrator. A final argument posed by proponents of thedeath penalty is that execution is an effective deterrence. They are convinced that potential murderers will likely think twice before they commit murder. Despite the rhetoric of politicians for the increased use of the death penalty, a number of prominent individuals and organizations have emerged to express their opposition to capital punishment. Along with families of death row prisoners, the International Court of The Hague, the United Nations, Amnesty International, the Texas Conference of Churches, Pope John Paul II, Nobel Peace recipient, Bishop Tutu, numerous judges and former prosecutors, former Attorney General, Ramsey Clark, actors, and writers are waging a determined struggle against the death penalty. They invariably argue that capital punishment is wrong and inhumane. Religious folk generally evoke the nature of an "ideal spiritual community" (Cauthen, 1). Within this perspective, a moral and ethical community does not insist on a life for a life. While a community must act to protect law– abiding citizens, an ethical response would be to Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 2. The Death Penalty Debate Essay The Death Penalty Debate The issue of the death penalty is widely disputed. So disputed that maybe I shouldn't have picked this topic. But nevertheless, the death penalty is an issue that needs to be addressed. Should the death penalty be abolished from our criminal justice system? Well, that depends on whom you ask. If you ask me... no. I personally don't see anything wrong with the death penalty because there are a lot of criminals that are just too dangerous to society and death is the only punishment they deserve. I know that it is in the eighth amendment that prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, and I can't think of a greater punishment for a crime than death, but I believe that exceptions should be made. Despite U.S....show more content... The most recent state to enact a death penalty law was New York in 1995. As of January 1998, 38 states and the federal government havecapital punishment laws in effect. Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin do not have a death penalty. (http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/just/death/) Death penalty advocates argue that the execution of convicted murderers deter others from committing murder for fear that they will also be executed, and also that murderers will be incapacitated: once dead, they will have no opportunity to commit additional murders. Death penalty opponents dispute the deterrent effect of capital punishment, arguing that few murderers rationally weigh the possibility that they might face the death penalty before committing a murder. Finally, death penalty opponents do not dispute that execution incapacitates executed murders, but argue that life imprisonment without possibility of parole is equally incapacitating. (Jacob Sullum, Los Angeles) I do not agree with this statement. I couldn't think of punishment worse than death. If I were a criminal I Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 3. Death Penalty Debate Death Penalty Debate Paper BCOM/275 The death penalty is an issue that has continually created conflict in today's society. Many people arguing whether or not the death penalty should exist. Who's to say whether the death penalty is a form of justice and therefore a valid and appropriate punishment or whether it is a "cruel and unusual" form of punishment. "The Arizona Supreme Court threw out the death sentences for a Tucson man who bludgeoned his girlfriend and her two children to death in 1984 after lying in wait for each of them, ruling that the murders weren't especially heinous even though they were "atrocious" and "senseless"." (Associated Press 2012) That statement gives the illusion to potential...show more content... It is unlikely that any research predicated primarily on current U.S. statistics can discover a trustworthy connection between homicide and execution rates. (Liptak, 2007) Con The most compelling comparison made by Profesor Wolfers is Canada has not used capital punishment since 1962. However, the homicide rates in the U.S. and Canada are comparable since then, counting the four–year death penalty suspension in the U.S. in the 1970s. (Liptak, 2007) Does the death penalty really help deter crime? The theory of deterrence is based on the idea that the threat of punishment must be severe enough to counter the benefits or pleasures that the criminal would receive from the crime. In addition, the punishment must be administered swiftly so that potential criminals will see a clear cause and– effect relationship between the crime and the punishment. The death penalty would be considered a specific deterrence. As a result of their punishment, the criminal can not commit further crimes. There is no doubt that capital punishment serves as a specific deterrent: The executed criminal will never kill again. However, experts and others have long debated whether capital punishment is a more effective general deterrent than life in prison. Some opponents of the death penalty argue that instead of deterring crime, capital punishment actually increases murder rates because the state, through
  • 4. executions, devalues human life. Another argument for the Get more content on HelpWriting.net