Arguments Against The Death Penalty

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Since the beginning of civilization, people have sought justice by punishing wrongdoers. This punishment is usually proportional to the the crime that has been committed, an idea derived from the Babylonian “eye for an eye”. While the contemporary American public has generally agreed with punishments for less serious crimes, the ultimate punishment for capital crimes is still debated. Over decades, numerous court cases and precedents have shaped how and when the death penalty is executed. Even after years of innovation, the government has failed to produce a method of execution that is guaranteed to be quick and painless. As a result, many death row inmates suffer for extended periods of time before finally succumbing. In fact, government officials …show more content…

Those who believe that the death penalty should be abolished back their argument by saying that it is expensive, easily replaceable, racially biased, and non deterring (“10 Reasons to Oppose the Death Penalty”). Due to the long judicial process, each execution costs taxpayers millions of dollars each year, while an alternative such as life imprisonment would be more cost effective over time. In addition, the number of minority death row inmates is unproportional to the U.S. population as a whole, and there is no direct correlation between states with the death sentence and the crime rate. On the other hand, advocates for the death penalty argue that the death sentence is a proportional punishment for a heinous crime, prevents future crime, benefits the police, and provides closure to the victim’s family (“Capital Punishment: Arguments in favour of capital punishment”). A sense of justice is usually achieved when the lawbreaker receives an equal penalty for their misdeed, and once they are executed they can never again repeat their crimes. Furthermore, a death row inmate would try for a plea bargain to get life in prison instead, helping the law enforcement; and, the victim’s family would also feel that the criminal was punished to the fullest extent of the law. Capital punishment still retains relevance today because it directly affects America economically, politically, socially. Not only Americans, but also government officials challenge each other over capital punishment.The officials governing America, like on most issues, also disagree about capital punishment in the justice system. Michael Bloomberg, whose term ended in 2013 as the mayor of New York City, has been a staunch opponent of the death penalty. He has been quoted as saying, “I’d rather lock somebody up and throw away the key and put them in hard labor, the ultimate penalty that the law will

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