Argumentative Essay: Capital Punishment In The United States
In the perfect world, there would no such thing as criminals. Unfortunately, our world is nowhere close to perfect, so one of the most severe punishments for a crime is capital punishment, also known as the death penalty. Capital punishment has been a hot topic debate for several years now. It is defined as the practice of killing someone as a punishment for a serious crime. It is currently used in 31 states of the US. In the United States, the death penalty should be illegal because it puts innocent lives at risk, costs significantly more than life in prison, and it has not shown a decrease in murder rates at all.
One of the most important reasons to why capital punishment should not be practiced is because it puts innocent lives at risk. …show more content…
The justice system is not perfect, many mistakes are made. According to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, “studies show that one in every 25 people sentenced to death row are innocent, which is four percent.” Based on this data, in the last 35 years about 50 innocent people were killed. Capital punishment does indeed punish criminals, but it also punishes innocent ones too, this is not fair to them or their families. Why would anyone want to live in a world where this is allowed?
Fairringtion, Brian.
Death Penalty Errors . 9 May 2011, picklewriting.blogspot.com/2011/05/fairringtion-brian-death-penalty-errors.html
Another reason as to why capital punishment should not be allowed is because each execution cost a significant amount of money. A misconception is that the death penalty is cheaper since the criminal is no longer living so we don’t have to care for him. This is not true. According to the Death Penalty Information Center each execution costs about 1.8 million dollars, which is almost twice the amount it costs for life in prison. Taxpayers would like the government to shorten the appeals process, but it is not likely to happen because when a person’s life is on the line, the government is going to take it slow.
Finally, there is no evidence found that shows crime rates dropping due to capital punishment. In fact, southern states perform 80 percent of the executions, but the murder rate in those states are the highest. If a punishment this severe does not even cause a change in crime rates, then it shouldn’t be allowed.
Many people who support capital punishment present the fact that since the criminal has been killed, they won’t be able to murder again. Yes, that is in fact true, but as stated above, there is literally no evidence at all that shows the death penalty causes crime rates to
drop.
Another argument used for the death penalty is “if someone kills, then they should be killed.” This is sending out a very confusing message. We preach that it is wrong to kill, but if you kill, we kill you. Two wrongs do not make a right. A better alternative is life in prison, where guidance and counselling is available to help the criminal.
In conclusion, the death penalty should be illegal in the United States. Life is sacred, and innocent people should not be put at risk just to kill another.
One of the most important reasons to why capital punishment should not be practiced is because it puts innocent lives at risk. …show more content…
The justice system is not perfect, many mistakes are made. According to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, “studies show that one in every 25 people sentenced to death row are innocent, which is four percent.” Based on this data, in the last 35 years about 50 innocent people were killed. Capital punishment does indeed punish criminals, but it also punishes innocent ones too, this is not fair to them or their families. Why would anyone want to live in a world where this is allowed?
Fairringtion, Brian.
Death Penalty Errors . 9 May 2011, picklewriting.blogspot.com/2011/05/fairringtion-brian-death-penalty-errors.html
Another reason as to why capital punishment should not be allowed is because each execution cost a significant amount of money. A misconception is that the death penalty is cheaper since the criminal is no longer living so we don’t have to care for him. This is not true. According to the Death Penalty Information Center each execution costs about 1.8 million dollars, which is almost twice the amount it costs for life in prison. Taxpayers would like the government to shorten the appeals process, but it is not likely to happen because when a person’s life is on the line, the government is going to take it slow.
Finally, there is no evidence found that shows crime rates dropping due to capital punishment. In fact, southern states perform 80 percent of the executions, but the murder rate in those states are the highest. If a punishment this severe does not even cause a change in crime rates, then it shouldn’t be allowed.
Many people who support capital punishment present the fact that since the criminal has been killed, they won’t be able to murder again. Yes, that is in fact true, but as stated above, there is literally no evidence at all that shows the death penalty causes crime rates to
drop.
Another argument used for the death penalty is “if someone kills, then they should be killed.” This is sending out a very confusing message. We preach that it is wrong to kill, but if you kill, we kill you. Two wrongs do not make a right. A better alternative is life in prison, where guidance and counselling is available to help the criminal.
In conclusion, the death penalty should be illegal in the United States. Life is sacred, and innocent people should not be put at risk just to kill another.