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Affirms Life By Edward Koch Summary

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In Edward Koch’s essay he argues that the death penalty can prevent murders and affirm life. Koch begins his counter argument by addressing the issue of the death penalty being barbaric; he argues that while it may not be the most pleasant way to lower the murder rate it is necessary in order to achieve that goal. Since no other major democracy has a murder rate as high as the United States, the death penalty is necessary for lowering it and eliminating the issue of multiple murders. There have been many cases of murders committing the crime again, so if capital punishment was enacted murderers would never get the chance to kill again. When capital punishment is used it highlights the value of human life because it has such a strict punishment, …show more content…

Edward Koch make it clear that he believes that capital punishment can prevent homicides: “Had the death penalty been a real possibility in the minds of these murderers, they might well have stayed their hands” (484). Koch tries to convince his reader that a strict punishment like the death penalty will definitely force people to think twice before they murder another human being. Koch uses evidence like the murder rate and cases where criminals committed multiple murders to support his defense for capital punishment, and uses the statistics to show how necessary capital punishment is necessary in the United States (485-86). This essay is directed at U.S. citizens how can be persuaded to support or have not yet formed an opinion on capital punishment, so the death penalty can gain supporters and be fully incorporated into the law. He also states that by making murderers pay with their lives, capital punishment makes the value of human life at a higher level (487). This argument can be used to support ether side depending on how the individual looks at it, and Koch uses it to effectively support his

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For example, Turow illustrates that even people, who show anger towards the hideous crimes, still criticize the punishment, questioning the government capacity to distinguish between the innocent and the guilty. Furthermore, “in the last decade the murder rate in states without the death penalty has remained consistently lower than in the states that have had executions.” (Turow 2003) He includes that to show that the system is faulty and not essential because it doesn’t discourage criminals. Also, he points to the fact that Illinois, which has a capital penalty, has a higher death rate than Michigan, which doesn’t apply the penalty law, even though both of them have similar racial makeup, income levels, and population arrangement between cities and rural areas. Moreover, he argues against the belief that “death penalty saves money, because it avoids the expense of lifetime incarceration”, (Turow 2003)

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From a utilitarian perspective, the potential deterrent effect of capital punishment is questionable, as research has shown that it does not significantly reduce crime rates (Equal Justice Initiative, 2023). Instead, it perpetuates a cycle of violence and retribution that undermines the ultimate goal of

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He suggests that other social policies also lead to the death of innocent individuals, but they are not banned. The author presents deductive arguments to support his position, including the idea that murderers who are not executed have the potential to harm more innocent people. He believes that opponents of capital punishment should acknowledge their responsibility for innocent lives lost due to murderers who were not executed. Prager concludes that capital punishment is necessary to protect innocent lives. Opponents should confront their responsibility for every innocent already murdered and yet to be murdered by murderers who should have been

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This paper will serve to show that capital punishment is not, in fact, ethically permissible. I will argue this by explaining the government’s duty to its people, and how capital punishment is indeed a violation of these prima facie duties. 1. The government has a duty to protect its people from harm (including murder, abuse of power, etc.). 2.

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“In countries with a properly functioning legal system, the mob continues to exist, but it is rarely called upon to mete out capital punishment. The right to take human life belongs to the state. Not so in societies where weak courts and poor law enforcement are combined with intractable structural injustices. “In our present day society we as Americans have the cognitive dissonance that what the courts say are final, but also hold to the fact that the majority’s opinion rules.

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The topic of capital punishment presents a test of values. The arguments in support of and opposition to the death penalty are complex. In the end, this is a question of an individual’s values and morals. The topic requires careful thought to reach a reasoned position. Both sides of the argument are defensible.

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Summary of “Death and Justice” by, Ed Koch In “Death and Justice” Koch explains some of the reasons why people are against the death penalty, but also why he is for the death penalty. Some people are against the Death penalty because no other democracy uses the death penalty, or the wrong person could be convicted and get executed. Religious people take a firm stand against the death people because the bible states that thou shalt not kill. The death penalty needs to be available to punish murders for their heinous crimes.

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This source of important information gives readers both sides of the debate on capital punishment. This article discusses the enhancement of the brutality of punishing unforgettable crime committers. This article also discusses the side views of allowing the death penalty to be inflicted on people who haven't committed the real crime, therefore, being framed. I hope to use this source as evidence for both sides of the argument surrounding justice for capital punishment.

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Annotated Bibliography Draft Student name : Haider Zafaryab Student number: 2360526 Thesis Statement : Capital Punishment is a very controversial topic around the globe. I believe that it does more harm than good and breeds violence in society. Source 1: Radelet, M. L., & Akers, R. L. (1996).

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In the article, “The Impact of Reviving the Federal Death Penalty,” Craig Trocino, director of the Innocence Clinic at the University of Miami School of Law, stated “The death penalty is not a deterrent despite the claims of its proponents. In fact, since 1990 states without the death penalty have consistently had lower murder rates than states that have it” (Jones Jr par. 12). According to Craig Trocino, the death penalty is not acting as a deterrent. Many states do not have the death penalty in effect and have the benefits of lower crime rates.

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Abstract America's founders assumed they had a solid grasp on the best way to punish criminals and keep peace in the new land. The Death Penalty Act of 1994 greatly expanded the number of crimes punishable by death. Today, there are many people who are conflicted on whether or not punishing someone by murder is acceptable or not. There are also additional agreements on the morality of the death penalty in regards to a human's right to live and the substantial number of wrongful convictions and deaths. The Bible also comments on the subject telling how murder is a sin, and God will give justice to all people when he returns.

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Introduction: Capital punishment has been a criminal sentence imposed in America since colonial times. During this particular time period, the penalty was used for different crimes that went against the social norms, such as horse stealing, rape, burglary, and slave rebellion. Today the death sentence is strictly used in murder cases and in thirty-two out of the fifty states and by the federal system in the United States. In these states, it is completely legal to use the ultimate punishment of death to incapacitate a criminal from committing any further harm to society (Marcus, 2007). Throughout American history, many individuals have supported the death penalty because they believe it is an effective way to deter crime.

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Today many old issues are being raised again about how and who the penalty is carried out on. Only 32 states in the United States still use the death penalty, other states have banned it for various reasons. One of those reasons is because the amount of money it costs to execute an inmate sometimes costs more than it would to just give them life imprisonment. Another reason is because the process of capital punishment can take up to fifteen years; so many states would rather just give life sentences than have to go through that. Even though there are reasons to ban the death penalty, there are reasons to keep it

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Absence of Death Penalty is synonymous to crime rate increase. It is estimated 2,000,000 people in the United States are victims of crimes from assault to murder. These criminals within these cases find loop holes to get out of the Death Penalty, and only get a 10 year sentences. And for that reason that is why people think there should be a Death Penalty. On New Year’s Day, 2009, Oscar Grant was shot in the back by Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, California, after a fight broke out on the BART station.

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In the case of the death penalty, it has the added bonus in guaranteeing that the person would not offend again. Supporters of harsh punishments argue that the would-be criminal would consider the costs versus the benefits of committing a crime. If the costs outweigh the benefits, then it is assumed that he would stop what he is doing, effectively ‘deterred’. Furthermore, the usage of harsh punishments to effectively deter crime is ethically justified as it prevents more people from falling victim to crime. However it is extremely difficult to judge a punishment’s effectiveness based on its deterrence effect, consequently we must consider other variables that would entail a person to commit a crime.

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