Death Penalty - Ethics Essay Example
The Death Penalty
The death penalty is defined as the lawful infliction of death as a punishment. My dilemma with the death penalty is that the government cannot assure us that innocent people will not be executed. My other dilemma is that if murder can lead to the death penalty then is not the government killing someone also murder. Why is it okay for the State to take life, but not another person? My last dilemma is the bible states “an eye for an eye” (Matthew 5:38) meaning death is an acceptable form of punishment. But the bible also states that he who is without sin may cast the first stone (John 8:7). Meaning only those who are sin free may take life. An enormous argument still today is the number of innocent people that have been executed.
Some cases with strong evidence of innocence include: Carlos DeLuna Texas Conviction: 1983, Executed: 1989, Ruben Cantu Texas Convicted: 1985, Executed: 1993, Larry Griffin Missouri Conviction: 1981, Executed: 1995, Joseph O'Dell Virginia Conviction: 1986, Executed: 1997, David Spence Texas Conviction: 1984, Executed: 1997, Leo Jones Florida Convicted: 1981, Executed: 1998, Gary Graham Texas Convicted: 1981, Executed: 2000, Claude Jones Texas Convicted 1989, Executed 2000 and Cameron Willingham Texas Convicted: 1992, Executed: 2004.(Death Penalty Information Center) In these cases the death penalty is designed to execute people who have committed crimes but strong evidence has proven these people are more than likely innocent.
Murder is defined as the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another. Premeditated is defined as to think out or plan. My dilemma is if one person’s premeditation to take another human being life for murder why is it not murder when the State premeditates to take the life of one human being that has taken another human beings life. Seems to me neither has more justification that the other. Also, the bible states that “he who is without sin may cast the first stone”. Being
The death penalty is defined as the lawful infliction of death as a punishment. My dilemma with the death penalty is that the government cannot assure us that innocent people will not be executed. My other dilemma is that if murder can lead to the death penalty then is not the government killing someone also murder. Why is it okay for the State to take life, but not another person? My last dilemma is the bible states “an eye for an eye” (Matthew 5:38) meaning death is an acceptable form of punishment. But the bible also states that he who is without sin may cast the first stone (John 8:7). Meaning only those who are sin free may take life. An enormous argument still today is the number of innocent people that have been executed.
Some cases with strong evidence of innocence include: Carlos DeLuna Texas Conviction: 1983, Executed: 1989, Ruben Cantu Texas Convicted: 1985, Executed: 1993, Larry Griffin Missouri Conviction: 1981, Executed: 1995, Joseph O'Dell Virginia Conviction: 1986, Executed: 1997, David Spence Texas Conviction: 1984, Executed: 1997, Leo Jones Florida Convicted: 1981, Executed: 1998, Gary Graham Texas Convicted: 1981, Executed: 2000, Claude Jones Texas Convicted 1989, Executed 2000 and Cameron Willingham Texas Convicted: 1992, Executed: 2004.(Death Penalty Information Center) In these cases the death penalty is designed to execute people who have committed crimes but strong evidence has proven these people are more than likely innocent.
Murder is defined as the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another. Premeditated is defined as to think out or plan. My dilemma is if one person’s premeditation to take another human being life for murder why is it not murder when the State premeditates to take the life of one human being that has taken another human beings life. Seems to me neither has more justification that the other. Also, the bible states that “he who is without sin may cast the first stone”. Being