Why is the Death Penalty bad?

Question

I need to write a paper, the subject being Anti-Death Penalty. I am Pro-Death Penalty so I would like to hear from other people WHY they think the Death Penalty is bad and WHAT should be an alternative. Best answer will get points. Thanks.

Answer 1

i've done this before too. alright. the death penalty is bad for many reasons.

one. the death penalty is cruel and unusual. the death penalty lowers us down to murderer status. we are murdering a person that could very well be kept alive, and that very person could be kept in life imprisonment. sure, they couuld break out, but the chances are so slim, we have to say that it's worth it. we as america keep ourselves to be a very humane country, and when we kill people, we really aren't keeping that title. when people die on the chair, they sometimes have to be electrocuted multiple times before they die. i'm sure the criminals deserve it, but by doing this, we're doing the same. especiall cause the viable alternative, the life sentence, is a lot better and a lot more humane, yet still causes punishment.

second, you could say that the death penalty serves as a deterrent, or it serves to make sure that other criminals WONT kill. HOWEVER, studies show that the death penalty actually RAISES the rate of violent crime in states. that's true-- the death penalty DOES increase the rate of murder-- it's a proven fact.

third, people say that the death penalty is good for the victim's family. however, why make the family suffer time and time again through endless trials? we are only fueling anger by killing people, because they have to be reminded of the murder trial again and again, throughout 20 years of trials.

fourth, the death penalty from a religious standpoint. if you're religious. jesus said not to kill. the "eye for an eye" thing in the old testament was overrules by jesus's teachings. and he said to turn the other cheek, not to kill again. sure, we should say "hey murderer, kill another!" but we should certainly not kill them back.

thanks, and i hope i was helpful.

Answer 2

Don't be against the death penalty becasue it's immoral, be against the death penalty because it's ineffective and ridiculously expensive.

The death penalty would be a great deterrent if the people that committed the variety of crimes that get you sent to death row actually believed that they would be caught. If you figure that you're going to get away with it... why worry about a lethal injection? No one who's on the row ever thought about ending up there while they were committing the multiple murders, rapes, etc.

In addition, it actually costs more money to sentence someone to death than it does to put them in jail for the rest of their lives. With the individual cells, individual guards, individual meals, individual excercise time, etc., combined with the lengthy and mandatory appeals process that must be followed, the cost of killing someone becomes astronomical; not to mention the agony that puts the victim's family through.

If you want an alternative, the sad answer is that there really isn't any. The death penalty doesn't work because criminals don't think that they'll get caught, and prison doesn't work because it's based on the idea of rehabilitation; in order to rehabilitate someone whoever, you're assuming that the individual started off being habilitated (i.e. normal). If they weren't, which is the case with most of them, you're just sending them to convict school to become better and more dangerous criminals. The only way to decrease crime is to increase quality of life, which is a whole seperate problem.

Moral stances are great, but there is a real, logical breakdown in the ideology behind such a punishment. Hit your teacher with that arguement against the death penalty and watch their eyes pop out of their head.

Answer 3

I can't speak for others but my view on it is several-fold.

First, I can't even trust the government to pick up my trash on time, so I'm certain I don't want them deciding something as permanent as life and death. You don't hear about wrongful convictions all the time, but they certainly do happen, and if someone is put to death there's no coming back from it, so I suppose the fact that we may end up putting innocent people to death just settles pretty wrong with me.

And the fact that a large number of people who are guilty of crimes like these already live extremely violent lifestyles and that the threat of the state doesn't seem to be much of a deterrent doesn't help.

And then there's the fact that past the humanity and common-sense factors, from a fiscal standpoint, with the appeals process, etc, it's more expensive to execute them than to keep them in jail for life.

And although we should never make law based on other countries, international standard seems to be that if we execute, we're in the company of some of the most corrupt, abusive,evil nations on the planet, which doesn't thrill me.

I guess what it all really comes down to though is that I just don't believe it's the governments place to be killing its citizens. Killing one person is awful, but killing another just seems to multiply the evil.

As far as alternatives, I do believe that people guilty of capital crimes should never see the light of day again, and if they continually get in trouble behind bars, then them doing the rest of their days in solitary wouldn't be something I would lose any sleep over.

Answer 4

Without enough proof an innocent person can be put to death, and it has happened. I am for the death penalty, but I think a law needs to be passed that a person cannot be put to death unless DNA evidence identified the person positively as the one who was guilty. Then there is the argument that it is not right to take another life.

Answer 5

Candidly, I don't care about points, & haven't looked at any of your answers. To me, the concept of the death penalty is illogical, & immoral. #1--It is NOT a deterrent as many choose to believe. Most homicides are not comimitted with any thought of "consequnces." # 2--The justice system is imperfect, people have served decades in prison finally proven to be innocent by new technology, & those years can NEVER be recovered. #3--Which is part of #2--competent representation isn't always given to the "poor" or minorities ( you can research this); & perhaps I should have used as #1 first---PREMEDITATATED MURDER--which is what the death penality is, can NEVER be justified. In past debates, (I don't waste my time anymore) one reason given has been MY TAXES ARE GOING TO THE HIGH LIFE OF MISCREANTS IN PRISON WHO WATCH TV ALL DAY & HAVE SPAS & HEALTH INSURANCE! This couldn't be further from the truth. In my opinion, the death penalty is primarily REVENGE,
pure emotion, not logic. Sure! Let's hang them in the town square & bring fried chicken & potato salad. How ARCHIAC.Do you KNOW how many other "civilized" countries no longer have the death penalty? Look into it. Okay, as an alternatie, if absolutely proven guilty, (difficult at best), give these people a LIFE sentence wtih NO PAROLE; make them work very hard for every cent that supports them in prison, & no frills. No outside contacts. NOTHING. "Justice" as I believe I said, is not perfect. But we can always improve it. To "murder" for a "murder" is barbaric. Read some Gerry Spence for an anit-view. (Clearly, we're both on the same page!) The degree of the "heinous" crime has NOTHING to do with the death penalty. It is a matter of morality. I once wrote this very well known attorney, part was an analogy: If my son smashed in my daughter's head, would the solution be to smash in his, to TEACH him this was wrong? I got a beautiful letter in response. Once a DA, (I believe that's what he was), he's now a defense attorney with a RARE sense of humanity. This is a contoversial issue, but unlike religion & politics, has LOGIC to it. The very best you can ever do, is see both sides, whichever you choose to take. Good luck with your paper!

Answer 6

Death penalty is not moral because a person does not have a right to kill another person even when the latter has violated a law. God is the only source of life and nobody as a man could end life.

Answer 7

There is the argument that innocent people may be sentenced. There's also the way the system is run. People can be sentenced to death, only to appeal the sentence for another 13 years. The death sentence is not a deterrent.

Answer 8

Like you, I am Pro-Death Penalty.

I applaud you having to write about something you don't believe - but don't let it sway the way you think. Sorry I can't add anything to your paper.

Answer 9

Because it's our f*cking stupid country's way of telling people that murder is wrong. I'm not quite sure how we're supposed to uphold the first commandment by deliberately breaking it.

It's also not much of a "penalty" compared to rotting in a jail cell for the rest of your life, is it?

Answer 10

Three main points:

It is actually more expensive to execute somebody than imprison them for life. Court and legal fees are very expensive.

There have been numerous instances where innocent people have been executed.

It's too much power for a state to possess. Overzealous politicians trying to show they are tough on crime have refused to block executions on mentally retarded, minors( people who were tried as adults even though they were not), and those who were possibly innocent.