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A Debate of the Death Penalty Essay
The death penalty raises important questions about the right to life, who has a right to life, and
under what circumstances a right to life can be taken away. I believe there are no circumstances
under which capital punishment is justified. I will proceed to defend my claim that capital
punishment is unjustified by arguing a position that killing is wrong because it deprives individuals
of valuable futures. To support my thesis that capital punishment is not justified, I will expand upon
an argument made my Don Marquis in his essay "Why Abortion is Immoral" in which he argues that
killing is immoral on the grounds that it deprives human beings of a valuable future. My argument
is as follows:
1.Killing is wrong because it deprives the...show more content...
The outside factors and conditions are irrelevant. Rather, the value is determined by how that
person perceives his or her own life and these future experiences. Thus, when someone is killed, he
or she is deprived of all the things that were of value and will be of value to him or her in the
future. Causing this loss of a valuable future is ultimately what makes killing wrong and immoral
because that individual has permanently lost the opportunity to enjoy his or her future experiences
which are valuable to him or her. My second premise states that death row criminals are in the same
moral category as other human beings with respect to the moral value of their lives. The only factor
which differentiates a criminal from a non–criminal is the fact that the criminal, usually irrefutably,
violated community standards and the law to commit a crime. In the case of a criminal on death row,
he or she would have had to have committed a serious capital crime to receive the death sentence.
Since committing a capital offense is the only reason death row criminals are different from other
human beings, death row criminals are the same as other human beings in every other respect,
including with respect to the value of their futures. Furthermore, the future of a criminal on death
row is just as valuable as the future of a human being not on death row. Any form of capital
punishment is a form of killing. It does not matter who is actually doing the
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Arguments Against The Death Penalty
Eva Lopez
Capital punishment and the practice of the death penalty is an issue that is passionately debatable in
the United States. There have been many contradictions on whether states should abolish the death
penalty and continue with putting people in jail for the crime they have committed since those that
did the crime will no longer be able to harm anyone. Although opponents of the death penalty
believe that there is nothing solved from enforcing it, there are many supporters who believe the
death penalty is a great solution to those who "deserve" it, like murderers or child rapists. As
many surveys and different polls are done in different states and even countries, there will
probably never be an agreement between those who oppose it and those who support the death
penalty. In today's society, we all have different opinions and believe in different ideas of solving
an issue, but what it comes down to when speaking of a criminal issue is our justice system. The
U.S. justice system isn't always fair, and we all see it every day whether it's reading an article,
researching on an issue for a class, or most commonly watching/reading it on the news or social
media. When speaking on reasons and different opinions of those who oppose the death penalty and
those who support it, the topic becomes so controversial because both sides believe that they are
right and because death is so permanent. This issue is one that sparks up a lot of trouble because
everyone's opinions differ
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Argument Against The Death Penalty
In the wise words of the philosopher Immanuel Kant, "a society that is not willing to demand a life
of somebody who has taken somebody else's life is simply immoral." When considering the issue of
capital punishment, many arguments are made in favor of proponents and abolitionists. There are
utilitarian arguments, retributive arguments, and egalitarian arguments.
Utilitarian arguments argue against the death penalty, for they look to punish criminals for the
benefit and the "lesson learned" from the punishment. They believe that this is the most effective
form of deterrence, because the criminal will learn their lesson and the public will benefit from
safety from having the offender incapacitated. In conclusion, utilitarian arguments consider the costs
and benefits of different forms of punishment.
From the retributivist perspective, the future benefit that might be gained from punishment is
irrelevant; all that matters is that the offender is given what he deserves. In this case, kindness
begets kindness, and crime begets an appropriate punishment. The ultimate aim of retributivists is to
do the right thing regardless of the consequences.
And finally, the egalitarian arguments are based on the principle that people should be treated how
they treat others. This is correct in the logic that people do in fact deserve to be treated fairly, but in
the context of death penalty, the egalitarian arguments differ greatly from retributive arguments in
the sense that it isn't
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Arguments Against The Death Penalty
The Death Penalty should not be a legal form of punishment in the American criminal justice system.
Using opposing arguments from both a utilitarian and deontological perspective, I will analyze the
moral legitimacy of capital punishment; specifically pertaining to its use in the American criminal
justice system. I will argue that the death penalty does not properly reprimand a wrongdoer, because
it fails to meet all the qualifications of an effective punishment, it is morally flawed and arguably
unconstitutional, and its unfortunate racial bias causes it to be ineffective and detrimental to the
criminal reform system. In order to properly analyze the Illegitimacy and ineffectiveness of capital
punishment in the United States, recent data and input from modern criminologists will be used, and
philosophical arguments for and against the death penalty will be taken into consideration.
For the purposes of this essay, I will discuss the morality and effectiveness of the death penalty only
in the context of the American criminal justice system, rather than analyze the broader concept of the
morality of violence as a punishment. Arguments against the use of capital punishment are well
supported by The Utilitarian theory of punishment. This theory states that the justification of a
practice depends only on its consequences, and that the purpose of all laws should be to maximize
the happiness of society (Dressler). During class, the type of utilitarianism focused on was that taught
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Arguments Against Death Row
People who are against the death row are worried that people who are on it might be innocent. The
people who support death row, are saying they can't site one person in modern times who were
executed and later proven innocent. DNA test prove that there are a lot more innocent people that
have been convicted of a crime, than we thought. There are many cases where people were wrongly
accused, and were close to being executed.
The opposing side of the death trial have been getting a lot of attention, but what people fail to
realize is that between 3 and 181 lives would be saved by the execution of each convicted killer. A
study in 2006 found that each execution results in five fewer homicides, which follows the theory "If
the cost becomes too
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Argument Against The Death Penalty Essay
In 1992, 17 year old Johnny Frank Garrett was put to death for confessing to raping and murdering a
72–year old nun. A crime as heinous as this certainly deserves the death penalty as a punishment
right? The only problem is that Garrett didn't do it. Garrett was in fact, a mentally ill man who
suffered severe childhood trauma, significant brain damage and multiple personality disorder. His
mental instability and repeated police interrogation are only things that caused him to confess to
killing the nun. Shortly after the confession, a psychologist declared him mentally unfit to admit to
such a thing, and Garrett would proclaim his innocence right up until he was executed by the state of
Texas who had conveniently ignored the psychologist's...show more content...
The different drastically different sentences for two people found guilty of the exact same crime is
conclusive proof that something is flawed in the justice system and it needs to change, and one of
those changes has to be the abolition of the death penalty. If Garrett had been sparred, like he should
have been, he would still be around today and able to get the mental help he needed to overcome his
mental handicaps and make something of himself.
Garrett's case is certainly not unique either. Over the years, at least hundreds of other people have
been put to death for crimes they did not commit, and the recorded cases are only the ones we know
about. Common sense dictates that there are probably many more innocent people that have been
executed and evidence proving them innocent has yet to be discovered. Knowing that we put
innocent people to death is only one of the many reasons that the death penalty needs to be abolished.
Another reason that the death penalty needs to be abolished is that when we enact this penalty, we
cease to view criminals as humans, and begin viewing them as sub–humans who are no deserving of
the same rights that the rest of us enjoy. The United States' Constitution itself states that all of us,
even the lowest criminal is deserving of basic human dignity and basic rights. One of those rights is
the right to life. When we take someone's right to life away from them, they die as something less
than human in our
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Arguments Against The Death Penalty
Abstract
The death penalty has been a controversial issue for many years. Those who support the death
penalty find it to be a fitting form of punishment for criminal actions. Others suggest that the death
penalty is an inhumane practice, even towards criminals. Over the years, it is clear that there are
some fatal flaws in how the death penalty operates. Too often in the past has the death penalty fallen
victim to courtroom biases. Furthermore, the death penalty is an incredibly expensive and
time–consuming process. However, the determining factor of whether the death penalty can be
considered justice or not depends primarily on how it affects the overall crime rate. In light of this,
William Tucker– the American Spectator's New York correspondent and CEO of TheElevator.com–
and Eric M. Freedman – a professor at Hofstra University School of Law – present evidence of the
effectiveness and ineffectiveness of the death penalty system.
The Value of a Criminal Life The controversy over the death penalty has plagued the world for
years. Individuals such as William Tucker– The American Spectator's New York correspondent and
CEO of TheElevator.com – believe that the death penalty reduces crime. Meanwhile, those who
oppose the death penalty, such as Eric M. Freedman – a professor at Hofstra University School of
Law – argue that it is unneeded. Freedman's article The Case Against the Death Penalty and Tucker's
article Why the Death Penalty Works reflect why
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Arguments Against The Death Penalty
Death Penalty Paper
Some crimes cannot be forgiven. That is why we have the death penalty to punish those who did
these heinous crimes. Some people oppose this and believe that it is wrong and cruel to put a
person to death, no matter how awful the people who did these terrible deeds. I am here to oppose
that argument, and to say that we absolutely need the death penalty, to end the lives of these hellish
figures. However, the current capital punishment standards should change, as the system is not
perfect. I will list my reasons on why we need the death penalty, and analyze the opposing side to the
death penalty.
My first point is that capital punishment should partially be up to the family of the victim(s) to
decide. Imagine having to deal with the pain and suffering after a person in your family was tortured
and cold–bloodedly murdered by someone. You probably wouldn't ever forgive that murderer for
their actions, and that they should pay for you family member's life with theirs. I believe that if a
jury agrees that the crime convicted is worthy of a death sentence (or multiple life sentences, life
without parole, etc.), it should be the family of the victim to decide what to do with them. However,
if a jury finds the case unworthy of a death sentence, the family would not have that option. For my
example, I will be using the case entailing the murder of 17 year–old Kelly Anne Bates. In 1996, 48
year–old James Patterson Smith tortured, mutilated, and killed Bates. It was
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Arguments Against The Death Penalty
The primary reason why people argue against the reinstation of the death penalty is because of the
execution of innocent people which in turn, leads to serious miscarriages of justice. This is the
primary argument as to why Capital Punishment should not be reinstated because, there have
been unlawful executions of innocent civilians who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
This argument aims mainly towards the Derek Bentley case as Derek Bentley was wrongly
executed for the murder of a police officer when it was his accomplice, Christopher Craig who
pulled the trigger and killed the police officer. It was the phrase "let him have it" that was
interpreted to state that it was Bentley who told Craig to kill the officer instead of surrendering the
weapon. This case was one of the main pieces of evidence required for protestors to protest about
having Capital Punishment abolished in the United Kingdom as Bentley was only 19 when he was
executed. The conviction for Derek Bentley was eventually abolished in 1998. Mahmood Hussain
Matan was another example of a wrongful execution as he was executed in 1952 after being
wrongfully convicted for the murder of Lily Volpert. His case was eventually quashed in 1998 by
the Court of Appeal making it the first case referred to the Court of Appeal under the new Criminal
Cases Review Commission. This proves why people want the Death Penalty to stay abolished
because, over time, there have been serious miscarriages of justice towards the
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Argument Against the Death Penalty Essay
Argument Against the Death Penalty
Life is sacred. This is an ideal that the majority of people can agree upon to a certain extent. For this
reason taking the life of another has always been considered the most deplorable of crimes, one
worthy of the harshest available punishment. Thus arises one of the great moral dilemmas of our
time. Should taking the life of one who has taken the life of others be considered an available
punishment? Is a murderer's life any less sacred than the victim's is? Can capital punishment, the
death penalty, execution, legal murder, or whatever a societywishes to call it, be morally justifiable?
The underlying question in this issue is if any kind of killing, regardless of reason, can be accepted.
In this...show more content...
Today our society is assaulted with a barrage of violent images, whether fictional or not. People no
longer think twice when they see a character die in a movie or a bullet riddled high–schooler jump
out of a second story window. The concept of human life has completely lost its meaning. Capital
punishment contributes to this problem. A convict is not thought of as a person. All humanity
associated with them is removed. This rationalization is required in order have a society where
capital punishment is legal. If a society removes humanity from convicts, characters in movies, or
people on the 6 o'clock news it will begin to remove humanity from people encountered in every day
life.
With time violence may become such a commonplace that even seemingly sane people will see no
problem murdering a store clerk, opening fire on someone that cut them off on the highway, or
killing a disobedient child. "A society that chooses violent death as a solution to a social problem
gives official sanction to a climate of violence." (Prejean, 57)
The next argument supporting the immorality of capital punishment is that the reality of it is
hidden. The majority of Americans support the death penalty, yet a very small minority of them has
actually witnessed an execution. Also, very few Americans have known an executed criminal.
These two facts contribute to the entire rationalization process. No matter how anyone looks at it, no
one can deny the fact
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Arguments Against Death Penalty
Every day the news is filled with stories about people being killed in cities such as Chicago,
Illinois even Orlando, Florida!! Detectives now have to ask questions about the victims like
whether it was the car they were driving, the colors they was wearing, the shoes/clothes they had on,
or their choice of partner that caused them to be shot. Some of the motives behind these senseless
shootings vary from robbery, drug deals gone wrong to hate crimes which resulted in countless
numbers of innocent individuals being killed daily. Some of the perpetrators are identified,
apprehended, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. Sentence to death may be referred to as the
death penalty which in legal terminology is capital punishment. According to...show more content...
Of the 389, 222 are white males, 151 are black males, 12 are other, 1 white female, 2 black females
and 1 other. It costs $49.49 per day to house each inmate or $18, 064 per year. In addition, Florida
spends over $1 million per inmate on death row and appellate cost. (Death Row Roster) As of
January 1, 2016, there were 2,943 inmates on death row in the United States. The cost to house these
inmates continues to rise every year in addition to the number of inmate rising as well. This money
could be put to better use for example it could help repair the deteriorating education system in the
United States. There are schools without enough books for their students, more money could help.
However, opponents of capital punishment argue it cost more than keeping the inmates incarcerated.
For example, the estimated cost of each execution in Florida is approximately $3.2 million, which is
six times the cost of a life imprisonment sentence. (Beadu) They also feel if the United States
commuted all death sentences to life in prison that could save hundreds of millions of dollars each
year and possibly billions over the course of
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Arguments Against The Death Penalty Essay
"Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong", what makes us
different from those individuals who we execute? Where do we get the right to take someone's life
anymore than they? Many individuals have been executed without physical evidence, how are we to
know that the individual is actually guilty? Till this day, there are thirty–one states with the death
penalty and nineteen without.
There are many reasons why the death penalty should be abolished, it violates the offender's rights to
life and the offense of human dignity. Yet many individuals still insist on the death penalty. Bedau
argues against capital punishment through his argument "The Minimal Invasion Argument Against
the Death Penalty'. His...show more content...
(4) To achieve valid social goals, long–term imprisonment is sufficient as an invasion of individual
liberty, privacy, and autonomy (and other fundamental values).
(5) Therefore, society ought to abolish any lawful practice that imposes greater violation of
individual liberty, privacy, or autonomy (or other fundamental value) in cases in which a less
invasive practice is available. (6) Conclusion: Society ought to abolish the death penalty.
To get acquire a better understanding of the premises, I will provide a brief statement for all.
In premise one, Bedau believes that although the democratic government will be convinced, there
should be more evidence to gain the government of a more totalitarian perspective. In premise two,
Bedau states "We have not figured out any less invasive response that will serve as a sufficient
means to the end of public safety." That being said, we have no possibility of preventing future
crimes because some punishments can harm our citizens, then once again creating a crime. Events
such as these are a reason why individuals who are for the death penalty stating that the offender
such serve for his crime in order to prevent any future crimes. By this premise, we can see that
punishment occurs due to a lack better alternatives in order to maintain a social contemptment.
Therefore, the punishment has to meet the needs to be justified and achieve the social goal. "From
time to time one does hear a friend of
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Arguments Against The Death Penalty
In the past, public executions were used as a form of entertainment. While they are no longer made
public, executions have remained as a form of punishment in many states. The most commonly used
method of executing the accused is lethal injection, however, death by firing squad, electrocution,
and hanging is still legal in some states. Capital punishment accomplishes nothing more than taking
one more life out of the world. Such strong moral objections bring in to question why such an
outdated method of dealing with criminals is still legal in thirty–one states. The death penalty is an
archaic form of punishment that needs to be eradicated as it is overly expensive, unfair, and has
lead to the loss of innocent lives.
People may attempt to argue that the death penalty should remain because it is more cost effective
than the alternative of life in prison without parole, however, this is not the case. Many studies have
been done in states that still employ the death penalty as a method of punishment. They have all
found capital punishment to be significantly more expensive than alternatives, such as life in prison
without chance of parole. "In Maryland, a comparison of capital trial costs with and without the
death penalty for the years concluded that a death penalty case costs "approximately 42 percent more
than a case resulting in a non–death sentence""("The Case Against the Death Penalty."). Another
study found that, "On average, Oklahoma capital cases cost 3.2 times more
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Arguments Against The Death Penalty
The concept of the death penalty is one of the most debated issues from then until now. Stearman
(2008) defines death penalty as the government action, which takes someone's life as a punishment
for wrongdoing. In the legal system, the death penalty is commonly known as the capital
punishment, which is derived from the Latin language, meaning "lose your head and you lose your
life" (Stearman, 2008). It is considered the most extreme punishment that a government can utilize
on its citizens. In the history, there are several societies throughout the world that utilized death
penalty, especially as their last option in a small number of cases. There are two opposing sides
shared by people who support and oppose the death penalty even though not all crimes are
punishable. The capital punishment breaches two important human rights, which are protected by the
United Nations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such as the right to live free from
any form of torture and the right to life. There are several types of capital punishment being
practiced in different regions, including electrocution, beheading, lethal injection, hanging, and
shooting in the back of the head or through firing squad (Amnesty International, n.d.). The capital
punishment is still practiced in some countries even though it has been abolished for almost
two–thirds of the world's countries. Specifically, there are 104 countries that had completely
abolished the death penalty through the end of
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Arguments Against The Death Penalty
One of the most heavily discussed topics today is the death penalty. On one side of the spectrum,
many argue that death is the only form of justice for the most heinous crimes. On the other, many
argue that it is a pointless waste of time. Recent studies have supported the latter argument. In 2011,
states without the death penalty have had 18% less murder rates than states that do enforce it. For the
ten years prior, the murder rates in the state without the death penalty have been consistently lower
and even, at times, the murder rate in those states have been lower than average ("Deterrence: States
Without the Death"). Furthermore, "In New Mexico, according to the legislative finance committee
a death penalty case costs approximately $20–25,000, compared to $7–8,000 for a non–death penalty
murder case" (de Leon). From a monetary front, the death penalty has been shown to cost more on
average than a regular life sentence. Money is being wasted on a service that harms an individual.
The death penalty is not an effective form of deterrence because studies have shown that states with
the death penalty have higher crime rates, and it provides no form of justice to anyone.
The death penalty is highly flawed in its form of justice. Many innocent people are sent to death
row, along with the guilty. As a result, an innocent person ends up paying the price of his life for a
crime that he did not commit. As many as twenty five people were exonerated from death in the
state of Florida alone ("Innocence and the Death Penalty"). Twenty five lives almost lost is no form
of justice. There are approximately 3.03 exonerations per year in the U.S. ("Innocence and the Death
Penalty"). And that is not even counting for the amount of people executed despite there being
some doubt to their guilt. In 2004, Cameron Willingham was executed for the deaths of three
children in a house fire. After examining the evidence presented against the defendant, four national
arson experts have said that the case against him was highly flawed and the fire may have been
accidental ("Executed But Possibly Innocent"). This is not an isolated case; many people who were
executed were either later proven innocent or there is
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Arguments Against The Death Penalty
Yes, the death penalty should be abolished for the worst crimes. Life without parole is better, for
many reasons. I'm against the death penalty not because of sympathy for criminals, but because it
doesn't reduce crime, it spreads the suffering of families of murder victims that costs a whole lot
more than life in prison, and, worst of all, risks of killings innocent people. The death penalty is very
selectively enforced. The death penalty has no beneficial effects, and no one can determine when it's
your time to die.
In the last 35 years in the U.S., over 130 people have been released from death row because they
were cleared by DNA and other new evidence (DNA is not available in most homicide cases). 99%
of people on death row were poor at...show more content...
God gave me a mother and a father. He gave me feeling to love, a heart to feel and a mind to learn.
However I was not given the right neither the ability to say whether or not someone should live or
die. This is not a skill or rule that was put in my hands to accept. I can only imagine what or how
someone deals with when a loved one is killed. I can only imagine. If someone in my family was
taken from me, I would be lost. My soul I cannot find the place where I can take a life. That is for
God to do and for me to have beliefs in his works. I pray for those that kill and that are the victims of
their insensible acts ("Bible"
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Against The Death Penalty Essay
Against the Death Penalty "Murder is wrong" ("Capital Punishment"). We've been taught this
indisputable truth since childhood. The death penalty is defined as one human taking the life of
another. Coincidentally, that is a classification of murder. There are as many as thirty
–six states with
the death penalty, and it's essential that they change it. The United States needs the death penalty
abolished because it is filled with flaws, cruel and immoral, and is an ineffective means of deterrent
for crime. I understand why you would want to have the death penalty in effect. You probably think
that it will be cheaper to execute people instead of paying taxes for them in jail. There is also a
probability that you think that you will...show more content...
Another flaw is it is morally wrong. No matter how people sugar–coat it, murder is murder, in the
name of justice or in vengeance it is morally wrong. Everyone deserves to live, no matter their
circumstances are. Federal states should not be allowed to decide who lives and who dies,
especially in a country such as the United States, which prides its self on freedom ("Top Ten").
Moreover, the death penalty is applied at random ("Facts"). "The death penalty is a lethal lottery: of
the 15,000 to 17,000 homicides committed every year in the United States, approximately 120
people are sentenced to death, less than 1%" ("Facts"). Many criminals have committed the same
crimes, but few have been sentenced to death for their crimes. In Addition, there is a chance
mentally ill citizens could be convicted to death ("Facts"). According to Amnesty International and
the National Association on Mental Illness, One out of every ten persons who has been executed in
the United States since 1977 is mentally ill. "Many mentally ill defendants are unable to participate
in their trials in any meaningful way and appear unengaged, cold, and unfeeling before the jury"
("Facts"). Many mentally ill defendants have been drugged against their will in order for them to be
competent enough to be executed ("Facts"). Some states still haven't put a ban on executing
mentally ill people such as Organ, although the United States Supreme Court has declared that
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Arguments Against Death Penalty
The Supreme Court of the United States yesterday ordered the suspension of executions of prisoners
waiting on death row since before 2012, when the practice was abolished, reiterating once again that
this punishment is completely unconstitutional. This happened after the adoption of a law at the
state level was established three years ago in the state of Connecticut banning since then again
condemn capital punishment convicted of serious crimes , except for 11 prisoners who were already
awaiting their conviction.
For starters, through the years they have used arguments for and against the conviction or death
sentence. Some of those arguments to promote it are taken from the religious foundations, which are
expressed in the Old Testament , such
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Death Penalty Arguments
The Death Penalty We should use the death penalty for sex offenders and violent criminals. Do you
know anyone who has been the victim of murder? If you have, then how did it make you feel when
you found out they were murdered? We should use the death penalty for sex offenders and violent
criminals. While many people disagree with capital punishment, here are some reasons why it is
perfectly justifiable. Each year, taxpayers spend money on the prisoners that are incarcerated, this
can add up quickly. By speeding up the death penalty process we can save taxpayers money.
According to Tom Head, it costs nearly double the money to house an inmate ondeath row (5
Arguments for the Death Penalty). We can fix this problem by speeding up the appeals process.
...show more content...
According to an article on owlcation.com, a man named Jimmy Lee Gray was convicted of killing
his 16 year old girlfriend(Killers Who Kill Again). After serving 7 years inprison he was released, he
then raped and murdered a 3 year old girl. Prodeathpenalty.com, states that by sentencing murderers
to death, we can prevent them from murdering more people (Death Penalty Arguments). By
removing these criminals from society we can save lives. Some people, however, disagree with
capital punishment. A number of people believe that these criminals deserve life in prison rather
than the death penalty. Some people argue that regardless of the crimes committed that these
criminals still have rights. Arthur J. Goldberg states that the death penalty is cruel and
unconstitutional (Declaring the Death Penalty Unconstitutional). The article also declares capital
punishment an atrocity and says that it is barbaric (Declaring the Death Penalty Unconstitutional).
The death penalty is becoming more widely ridiculed as more people assess the way it is
performed. However cruel it may be, these people have committed heinous crimes, and deserve little
to no
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Arguments Against The Death Penalty
Growing up, we were told, "two wrongs don't make a right", why is it different now? People try to
excuse the excessive use of the death penalty by saying it brings families closure or that it deters
murder–these have proven incorrect. The death penalty violates the eighth amendment due to the
fact that it does not always work. Which leads to a form of cruel and unusual punishment for those
convicted. If the death penalty does not bring closure, does not deter crime, and fails over three
percent of the time, how can it be right; what gives us, humans, the power to kill other humans?
The death penalty is said to right a wrong, but killing is never right. As stated earlier, people try to
convince others that the death penalty is okay by dragging the victims' families into the
argument. Many families just want the trial done and over with. Lorilei Guillory, mother of
molested and murdered six year old boy, even asked for mercy for the killer. She had to go
through many hurdles just to speak at the trial because she was so against the death penalty. She
begged the killer to just plead guilty and accept a life sentence(DPIC, Lupo). On the other side,
some families do feel closure when someone is sentenced to death. However, those are far and few
between. Most families oppose the death penalty because it drags them through years of trials and
ordeals. When it comes down to it and families do not think the death penalty helps ro brings
closure, it goes to show that the death
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Anti Death Penalty Arguments Essay

  • 1. A Debate of the Death Penalty Essay The death penalty raises important questions about the right to life, who has a right to life, and under what circumstances a right to life can be taken away. I believe there are no circumstances under which capital punishment is justified. I will proceed to defend my claim that capital punishment is unjustified by arguing a position that killing is wrong because it deprives individuals of valuable futures. To support my thesis that capital punishment is not justified, I will expand upon an argument made my Don Marquis in his essay "Why Abortion is Immoral" in which he argues that killing is immoral on the grounds that it deprives human beings of a valuable future. My argument is as follows: 1.Killing is wrong because it deprives the...show more content... The outside factors and conditions are irrelevant. Rather, the value is determined by how that person perceives his or her own life and these future experiences. Thus, when someone is killed, he or she is deprived of all the things that were of value and will be of value to him or her in the future. Causing this loss of a valuable future is ultimately what makes killing wrong and immoral because that individual has permanently lost the opportunity to enjoy his or her future experiences which are valuable to him or her. My second premise states that death row criminals are in the same moral category as other human beings with respect to the moral value of their lives. The only factor which differentiates a criminal from a non–criminal is the fact that the criminal, usually irrefutably, violated community standards and the law to commit a crime. In the case of a criminal on death row, he or she would have had to have committed a serious capital crime to receive the death sentence. Since committing a capital offense is the only reason death row criminals are different from other human beings, death row criminals are the same as other human beings in every other respect, including with respect to the value of their futures. Furthermore, the future of a criminal on death row is just as valuable as the future of a human being not on death row. Any form of capital punishment is a form of killing. It does not matter who is actually doing the Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 2. Arguments Against The Death Penalty Eva Lopez Capital punishment and the practice of the death penalty is an issue that is passionately debatable in the United States. There have been many contradictions on whether states should abolish the death penalty and continue with putting people in jail for the crime they have committed since those that did the crime will no longer be able to harm anyone. Although opponents of the death penalty believe that there is nothing solved from enforcing it, there are many supporters who believe the death penalty is a great solution to those who "deserve" it, like murderers or child rapists. As many surveys and different polls are done in different states and even countries, there will probably never be an agreement between those who oppose it and those who support the death penalty. In today's society, we all have different opinions and believe in different ideas of solving an issue, but what it comes down to when speaking of a criminal issue is our justice system. The U.S. justice system isn't always fair, and we all see it every day whether it's reading an article, researching on an issue for a class, or most commonly watching/reading it on the news or social media. When speaking on reasons and different opinions of those who oppose the death penalty and those who support it, the topic becomes so controversial because both sides believe that they are right and because death is so permanent. This issue is one that sparks up a lot of trouble because everyone's opinions differ Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 3. Argument Against The Death Penalty In the wise words of the philosopher Immanuel Kant, "a society that is not willing to demand a life of somebody who has taken somebody else's life is simply immoral." When considering the issue of capital punishment, many arguments are made in favor of proponents and abolitionists. There are utilitarian arguments, retributive arguments, and egalitarian arguments. Utilitarian arguments argue against the death penalty, for they look to punish criminals for the benefit and the "lesson learned" from the punishment. They believe that this is the most effective form of deterrence, because the criminal will learn their lesson and the public will benefit from safety from having the offender incapacitated. In conclusion, utilitarian arguments consider the costs and benefits of different forms of punishment. From the retributivist perspective, the future benefit that might be gained from punishment is irrelevant; all that matters is that the offender is given what he deserves. In this case, kindness begets kindness, and crime begets an appropriate punishment. The ultimate aim of retributivists is to do the right thing regardless of the consequences. And finally, the egalitarian arguments are based on the principle that people should be treated how they treat others. This is correct in the logic that people do in fact deserve to be treated fairly, but in the context of death penalty, the egalitarian arguments differ greatly from retributive arguments in the sense that it isn't Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 4. Arguments Against The Death Penalty The Death Penalty should not be a legal form of punishment in the American criminal justice system. Using opposing arguments from both a utilitarian and deontological perspective, I will analyze the moral legitimacy of capital punishment; specifically pertaining to its use in the American criminal justice system. I will argue that the death penalty does not properly reprimand a wrongdoer, because it fails to meet all the qualifications of an effective punishment, it is morally flawed and arguably unconstitutional, and its unfortunate racial bias causes it to be ineffective and detrimental to the criminal reform system. In order to properly analyze the Illegitimacy and ineffectiveness of capital punishment in the United States, recent data and input from modern criminologists will be used, and philosophical arguments for and against the death penalty will be taken into consideration. For the purposes of this essay, I will discuss the morality and effectiveness of the death penalty only in the context of the American criminal justice system, rather than analyze the broader concept of the morality of violence as a punishment. Arguments against the use of capital punishment are well supported by The Utilitarian theory of punishment. This theory states that the justification of a practice depends only on its consequences, and that the purpose of all laws should be to maximize the happiness of society (Dressler). During class, the type of utilitarianism focused on was that taught Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 5. Arguments Against Death Row People who are against the death row are worried that people who are on it might be innocent. The people who support death row, are saying they can't site one person in modern times who were executed and later proven innocent. DNA test prove that there are a lot more innocent people that have been convicted of a crime, than we thought. There are many cases where people were wrongly accused, and were close to being executed. The opposing side of the death trial have been getting a lot of attention, but what people fail to realize is that between 3 and 181 lives would be saved by the execution of each convicted killer. A study in 2006 found that each execution results in five fewer homicides, which follows the theory "If the cost becomes too Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 6. Argument Against The Death Penalty Essay In 1992, 17 year old Johnny Frank Garrett was put to death for confessing to raping and murdering a 72–year old nun. A crime as heinous as this certainly deserves the death penalty as a punishment right? The only problem is that Garrett didn't do it. Garrett was in fact, a mentally ill man who suffered severe childhood trauma, significant brain damage and multiple personality disorder. His mental instability and repeated police interrogation are only things that caused him to confess to killing the nun. Shortly after the confession, a psychologist declared him mentally unfit to admit to such a thing, and Garrett would proclaim his innocence right up until he was executed by the state of Texas who had conveniently ignored the psychologist's...show more content... The different drastically different sentences for two people found guilty of the exact same crime is conclusive proof that something is flawed in the justice system and it needs to change, and one of those changes has to be the abolition of the death penalty. If Garrett had been sparred, like he should have been, he would still be around today and able to get the mental help he needed to overcome his mental handicaps and make something of himself. Garrett's case is certainly not unique either. Over the years, at least hundreds of other people have been put to death for crimes they did not commit, and the recorded cases are only the ones we know about. Common sense dictates that there are probably many more innocent people that have been executed and evidence proving them innocent has yet to be discovered. Knowing that we put innocent people to death is only one of the many reasons that the death penalty needs to be abolished. Another reason that the death penalty needs to be abolished is that when we enact this penalty, we cease to view criminals as humans, and begin viewing them as sub–humans who are no deserving of the same rights that the rest of us enjoy. The United States' Constitution itself states that all of us, even the lowest criminal is deserving of basic human dignity and basic rights. One of those rights is the right to life. When we take someone's right to life away from them, they die as something less than human in our Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 7. Arguments Against The Death Penalty Abstract The death penalty has been a controversial issue for many years. Those who support the death penalty find it to be a fitting form of punishment for criminal actions. Others suggest that the death penalty is an inhumane practice, even towards criminals. Over the years, it is clear that there are some fatal flaws in how the death penalty operates. Too often in the past has the death penalty fallen victim to courtroom biases. Furthermore, the death penalty is an incredibly expensive and time–consuming process. However, the determining factor of whether the death penalty can be considered justice or not depends primarily on how it affects the overall crime rate. In light of this, William Tucker– the American Spectator's New York correspondent and CEO of TheElevator.com– and Eric M. Freedman – a professor at Hofstra University School of Law – present evidence of the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of the death penalty system. The Value of a Criminal Life The controversy over the death penalty has plagued the world for years. Individuals such as William Tucker– The American Spectator's New York correspondent and CEO of TheElevator.com – believe that the death penalty reduces crime. Meanwhile, those who oppose the death penalty, such as Eric M. Freedman – a professor at Hofstra University School of Law – argue that it is unneeded. Freedman's article The Case Against the Death Penalty and Tucker's article Why the Death Penalty Works reflect why Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 8. Arguments Against The Death Penalty Death Penalty Paper Some crimes cannot be forgiven. That is why we have the death penalty to punish those who did these heinous crimes. Some people oppose this and believe that it is wrong and cruel to put a person to death, no matter how awful the people who did these terrible deeds. I am here to oppose that argument, and to say that we absolutely need the death penalty, to end the lives of these hellish figures. However, the current capital punishment standards should change, as the system is not perfect. I will list my reasons on why we need the death penalty, and analyze the opposing side to the death penalty. My first point is that capital punishment should partially be up to the family of the victim(s) to decide. Imagine having to deal with the pain and suffering after a person in your family was tortured and cold–bloodedly murdered by someone. You probably wouldn't ever forgive that murderer for their actions, and that they should pay for you family member's life with theirs. I believe that if a jury agrees that the crime convicted is worthy of a death sentence (or multiple life sentences, life without parole, etc.), it should be the family of the victim to decide what to do with them. However, if a jury finds the case unworthy of a death sentence, the family would not have that option. For my example, I will be using the case entailing the murder of 17 year–old Kelly Anne Bates. In 1996, 48 year–old James Patterson Smith tortured, mutilated, and killed Bates. It was Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 9. Arguments Against The Death Penalty The primary reason why people argue against the reinstation of the death penalty is because of the execution of innocent people which in turn, leads to serious miscarriages of justice. This is the primary argument as to why Capital Punishment should not be reinstated because, there have been unlawful executions of innocent civilians who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. This argument aims mainly towards the Derek Bentley case as Derek Bentley was wrongly executed for the murder of a police officer when it was his accomplice, Christopher Craig who pulled the trigger and killed the police officer. It was the phrase "let him have it" that was interpreted to state that it was Bentley who told Craig to kill the officer instead of surrendering the weapon. This case was one of the main pieces of evidence required for protestors to protest about having Capital Punishment abolished in the United Kingdom as Bentley was only 19 when he was executed. The conviction for Derek Bentley was eventually abolished in 1998. Mahmood Hussain Matan was another example of a wrongful execution as he was executed in 1952 after being wrongfully convicted for the murder of Lily Volpert. His case was eventually quashed in 1998 by the Court of Appeal making it the first case referred to the Court of Appeal under the new Criminal Cases Review Commission. This proves why people want the Death Penalty to stay abolished because, over time, there have been serious miscarriages of justice towards the Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 10. Argument Against the Death Penalty Essay Argument Against the Death Penalty Life is sacred. This is an ideal that the majority of people can agree upon to a certain extent. For this reason taking the life of another has always been considered the most deplorable of crimes, one worthy of the harshest available punishment. Thus arises one of the great moral dilemmas of our time. Should taking the life of one who has taken the life of others be considered an available punishment? Is a murderer's life any less sacred than the victim's is? Can capital punishment, the death penalty, execution, legal murder, or whatever a societywishes to call it, be morally justifiable? The underlying question in this issue is if any kind of killing, regardless of reason, can be accepted. In this...show more content... Today our society is assaulted with a barrage of violent images, whether fictional or not. People no longer think twice when they see a character die in a movie or a bullet riddled high–schooler jump out of a second story window. The concept of human life has completely lost its meaning. Capital punishment contributes to this problem. A convict is not thought of as a person. All humanity associated with them is removed. This rationalization is required in order have a society where capital punishment is legal. If a society removes humanity from convicts, characters in movies, or people on the 6 o'clock news it will begin to remove humanity from people encountered in every day life. With time violence may become such a commonplace that even seemingly sane people will see no problem murdering a store clerk, opening fire on someone that cut them off on the highway, or killing a disobedient child. "A society that chooses violent death as a solution to a social problem gives official sanction to a climate of violence." (Prejean, 57) The next argument supporting the immorality of capital punishment is that the reality of it is hidden. The majority of Americans support the death penalty, yet a very small minority of them has actually witnessed an execution. Also, very few Americans have known an executed criminal. These two facts contribute to the entire rationalization process. No matter how anyone looks at it, no one can deny the fact Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 11. Arguments Against Death Penalty Every day the news is filled with stories about people being killed in cities such as Chicago, Illinois even Orlando, Florida!! Detectives now have to ask questions about the victims like whether it was the car they were driving, the colors they was wearing, the shoes/clothes they had on, or their choice of partner that caused them to be shot. Some of the motives behind these senseless shootings vary from robbery, drug deals gone wrong to hate crimes which resulted in countless numbers of innocent individuals being killed daily. Some of the perpetrators are identified, apprehended, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. Sentence to death may be referred to as the death penalty which in legal terminology is capital punishment. According to...show more content... Of the 389, 222 are white males, 151 are black males, 12 are other, 1 white female, 2 black females and 1 other. It costs $49.49 per day to house each inmate or $18, 064 per year. In addition, Florida spends over $1 million per inmate on death row and appellate cost. (Death Row Roster) As of January 1, 2016, there were 2,943 inmates on death row in the United States. The cost to house these inmates continues to rise every year in addition to the number of inmate rising as well. This money could be put to better use for example it could help repair the deteriorating education system in the United States. There are schools without enough books for their students, more money could help. However, opponents of capital punishment argue it cost more than keeping the inmates incarcerated. For example, the estimated cost of each execution in Florida is approximately $3.2 million, which is six times the cost of a life imprisonment sentence. (Beadu) They also feel if the United States commuted all death sentences to life in prison that could save hundreds of millions of dollars each year and possibly billions over the course of Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 12. Arguments Against The Death Penalty Essay "Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong", what makes us different from those individuals who we execute? Where do we get the right to take someone's life anymore than they? Many individuals have been executed without physical evidence, how are we to know that the individual is actually guilty? Till this day, there are thirty–one states with the death penalty and nineteen without. There are many reasons why the death penalty should be abolished, it violates the offender's rights to life and the offense of human dignity. Yet many individuals still insist on the death penalty. Bedau argues against capital punishment through his argument "The Minimal Invasion Argument Against the Death Penalty'. His...show more content... (4) To achieve valid social goals, long–term imprisonment is sufficient as an invasion of individual liberty, privacy, and autonomy (and other fundamental values). (5) Therefore, society ought to abolish any lawful practice that imposes greater violation of individual liberty, privacy, or autonomy (or other fundamental value) in cases in which a less invasive practice is available. (6) Conclusion: Society ought to abolish the death penalty. To get acquire a better understanding of the premises, I will provide a brief statement for all. In premise one, Bedau believes that although the democratic government will be convinced, there should be more evidence to gain the government of a more totalitarian perspective. In premise two, Bedau states "We have not figured out any less invasive response that will serve as a sufficient means to the end of public safety." That being said, we have no possibility of preventing future crimes because some punishments can harm our citizens, then once again creating a crime. Events such as these are a reason why individuals who are for the death penalty stating that the offender such serve for his crime in order to prevent any future crimes. By this premise, we can see that punishment occurs due to a lack better alternatives in order to maintain a social contemptment. Therefore, the punishment has to meet the needs to be justified and achieve the social goal. "From time to time one does hear a friend of Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 13. Arguments Against The Death Penalty In the past, public executions were used as a form of entertainment. While they are no longer made public, executions have remained as a form of punishment in many states. The most commonly used method of executing the accused is lethal injection, however, death by firing squad, electrocution, and hanging is still legal in some states. Capital punishment accomplishes nothing more than taking one more life out of the world. Such strong moral objections bring in to question why such an outdated method of dealing with criminals is still legal in thirty–one states. The death penalty is an archaic form of punishment that needs to be eradicated as it is overly expensive, unfair, and has lead to the loss of innocent lives. People may attempt to argue that the death penalty should remain because it is more cost effective than the alternative of life in prison without parole, however, this is not the case. Many studies have been done in states that still employ the death penalty as a method of punishment. They have all found capital punishment to be significantly more expensive than alternatives, such as life in prison without chance of parole. "In Maryland, a comparison of capital trial costs with and without the death penalty for the years concluded that a death penalty case costs "approximately 42 percent more than a case resulting in a non–death sentence""("The Case Against the Death Penalty."). Another study found that, "On average, Oklahoma capital cases cost 3.2 times more Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 14. Arguments Against The Death Penalty The concept of the death penalty is one of the most debated issues from then until now. Stearman (2008) defines death penalty as the government action, which takes someone's life as a punishment for wrongdoing. In the legal system, the death penalty is commonly known as the capital punishment, which is derived from the Latin language, meaning "lose your head and you lose your life" (Stearman, 2008). It is considered the most extreme punishment that a government can utilize on its citizens. In the history, there are several societies throughout the world that utilized death penalty, especially as their last option in a small number of cases. There are two opposing sides shared by people who support and oppose the death penalty even though not all crimes are punishable. The capital punishment breaches two important human rights, which are protected by the United Nations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such as the right to live free from any form of torture and the right to life. There are several types of capital punishment being practiced in different regions, including electrocution, beheading, lethal injection, hanging, and shooting in the back of the head or through firing squad (Amnesty International, n.d.). The capital punishment is still practiced in some countries even though it has been abolished for almost two–thirds of the world's countries. Specifically, there are 104 countries that had completely abolished the death penalty through the end of Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 15. Arguments Against The Death Penalty One of the most heavily discussed topics today is the death penalty. On one side of the spectrum, many argue that death is the only form of justice for the most heinous crimes. On the other, many argue that it is a pointless waste of time. Recent studies have supported the latter argument. In 2011, states without the death penalty have had 18% less murder rates than states that do enforce it. For the ten years prior, the murder rates in the state without the death penalty have been consistently lower and even, at times, the murder rate in those states have been lower than average ("Deterrence: States Without the Death"). Furthermore, "In New Mexico, according to the legislative finance committee a death penalty case costs approximately $20–25,000, compared to $7–8,000 for a non–death penalty murder case" (de Leon). From a monetary front, the death penalty has been shown to cost more on average than a regular life sentence. Money is being wasted on a service that harms an individual. The death penalty is not an effective form of deterrence because studies have shown that states with the death penalty have higher crime rates, and it provides no form of justice to anyone. The death penalty is highly flawed in its form of justice. Many innocent people are sent to death row, along with the guilty. As a result, an innocent person ends up paying the price of his life for a crime that he did not commit. As many as twenty five people were exonerated from death in the state of Florida alone ("Innocence and the Death Penalty"). Twenty five lives almost lost is no form of justice. There are approximately 3.03 exonerations per year in the U.S. ("Innocence and the Death Penalty"). And that is not even counting for the amount of people executed despite there being some doubt to their guilt. In 2004, Cameron Willingham was executed for the deaths of three children in a house fire. After examining the evidence presented against the defendant, four national arson experts have said that the case against him was highly flawed and the fire may have been accidental ("Executed But Possibly Innocent"). This is not an isolated case; many people who were executed were either later proven innocent or there is Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 16. Arguments Against The Death Penalty Yes, the death penalty should be abolished for the worst crimes. Life without parole is better, for many reasons. I'm against the death penalty not because of sympathy for criminals, but because it doesn't reduce crime, it spreads the suffering of families of murder victims that costs a whole lot more than life in prison, and, worst of all, risks of killings innocent people. The death penalty is very selectively enforced. The death penalty has no beneficial effects, and no one can determine when it's your time to die. In the last 35 years in the U.S., over 130 people have been released from death row because they were cleared by DNA and other new evidence (DNA is not available in most homicide cases). 99% of people on death row were poor at...show more content... God gave me a mother and a father. He gave me feeling to love, a heart to feel and a mind to learn. However I was not given the right neither the ability to say whether or not someone should live or die. This is not a skill or rule that was put in my hands to accept. I can only imagine what or how someone deals with when a loved one is killed. I can only imagine. If someone in my family was taken from me, I would be lost. My soul I cannot find the place where I can take a life. That is for God to do and for me to have beliefs in his works. I pray for those that kill and that are the victims of their insensible acts ("Bible" Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 17. Against The Death Penalty Essay Against the Death Penalty "Murder is wrong" ("Capital Punishment"). We've been taught this indisputable truth since childhood. The death penalty is defined as one human taking the life of another. Coincidentally, that is a classification of murder. There are as many as thirty –six states with the death penalty, and it's essential that they change it. The United States needs the death penalty abolished because it is filled with flaws, cruel and immoral, and is an ineffective means of deterrent for crime. I understand why you would want to have the death penalty in effect. You probably think that it will be cheaper to execute people instead of paying taxes for them in jail. There is also a probability that you think that you will...show more content... Another flaw is it is morally wrong. No matter how people sugar–coat it, murder is murder, in the name of justice or in vengeance it is morally wrong. Everyone deserves to live, no matter their circumstances are. Federal states should not be allowed to decide who lives and who dies, especially in a country such as the United States, which prides its self on freedom ("Top Ten"). Moreover, the death penalty is applied at random ("Facts"). "The death penalty is a lethal lottery: of the 15,000 to 17,000 homicides committed every year in the United States, approximately 120 people are sentenced to death, less than 1%" ("Facts"). Many criminals have committed the same crimes, but few have been sentenced to death for their crimes. In Addition, there is a chance mentally ill citizens could be convicted to death ("Facts"). According to Amnesty International and the National Association on Mental Illness, One out of every ten persons who has been executed in the United States since 1977 is mentally ill. "Many mentally ill defendants are unable to participate in their trials in any meaningful way and appear unengaged, cold, and unfeeling before the jury" ("Facts"). Many mentally ill defendants have been drugged against their will in order for them to be competent enough to be executed ("Facts"). Some states still haven't put a ban on executing mentally ill people such as Organ, although the United States Supreme Court has declared that Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 18. Arguments Against Death Penalty The Supreme Court of the United States yesterday ordered the suspension of executions of prisoners waiting on death row since before 2012, when the practice was abolished, reiterating once again that this punishment is completely unconstitutional. This happened after the adoption of a law at the state level was established three years ago in the state of Connecticut banning since then again condemn capital punishment convicted of serious crimes , except for 11 prisoners who were already awaiting their conviction. For starters, through the years they have used arguments for and against the conviction or death sentence. Some of those arguments to promote it are taken from the religious foundations, which are expressed in the Old Testament , such Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 19. Death Penalty Arguments The Death Penalty We should use the death penalty for sex offenders and violent criminals. Do you know anyone who has been the victim of murder? If you have, then how did it make you feel when you found out they were murdered? We should use the death penalty for sex offenders and violent criminals. While many people disagree with capital punishment, here are some reasons why it is perfectly justifiable. Each year, taxpayers spend money on the prisoners that are incarcerated, this can add up quickly. By speeding up the death penalty process we can save taxpayers money. According to Tom Head, it costs nearly double the money to house an inmate ondeath row (5 Arguments for the Death Penalty). We can fix this problem by speeding up the appeals process. ...show more content... According to an article on owlcation.com, a man named Jimmy Lee Gray was convicted of killing his 16 year old girlfriend(Killers Who Kill Again). After serving 7 years inprison he was released, he then raped and murdered a 3 year old girl. Prodeathpenalty.com, states that by sentencing murderers to death, we can prevent them from murdering more people (Death Penalty Arguments). By removing these criminals from society we can save lives. Some people, however, disagree with capital punishment. A number of people believe that these criminals deserve life in prison rather than the death penalty. Some people argue that regardless of the crimes committed that these criminals still have rights. Arthur J. Goldberg states that the death penalty is cruel and unconstitutional (Declaring the Death Penalty Unconstitutional). The article also declares capital punishment an atrocity and says that it is barbaric (Declaring the Death Penalty Unconstitutional). The death penalty is becoming more widely ridiculed as more people assess the way it is performed. However cruel it may be, these people have committed heinous crimes, and deserve little to no Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 20. Arguments Against The Death Penalty Growing up, we were told, "two wrongs don't make a right", why is it different now? People try to excuse the excessive use of the death penalty by saying it brings families closure or that it deters murder–these have proven incorrect. The death penalty violates the eighth amendment due to the fact that it does not always work. Which leads to a form of cruel and unusual punishment for those convicted. If the death penalty does not bring closure, does not deter crime, and fails over three percent of the time, how can it be right; what gives us, humans, the power to kill other humans? The death penalty is said to right a wrong, but killing is never right. As stated earlier, people try to convince others that the death penalty is okay by dragging the victims' families into the argument. Many families just want the trial done and over with. Lorilei Guillory, mother of molested and murdered six year old boy, even asked for mercy for the killer. She had to go through many hurdles just to speak at the trial because she was so against the death penalty. She begged the killer to just plead guilty and accept a life sentence(DPIC, Lupo). On the other side, some families do feel closure when someone is sentenced to death. However, those are far and few between. Most families oppose the death penalty because it drags them through years of trials and ordeals. When it comes down to it and families do not think the death penalty helps ro brings closure, it goes to show that the death Get more content on HelpWriting.net