Death Penalty 10 Arguments Against Capital Punishment

1473 Words6 Pages

The decision if the death penalty should be legalized is still a controversial issue to this day. Many people in different states believe that death penalty should be abolished, but there are also a multitude of people that support the decision of the death penalty. Proponents argue that the death penalty is an important tool for preserving law and order, deters crime, and costs less than life imprisonment. They also argue that The death penalty helps console the grieving families that the murderer is dead and gone. Opponents disagree. Many say it violates the constitutional ban against cruel and unusual punishment. Objectors also believe that a state should not give itself rights to kill another human. It is unfair and unjust. The start …show more content…

The killing of innocent people is a problem that is known to happen. When an innocent person is put to death it becomes an irreversible tragedy. Many fear this mistake. In an article called, “Kill the Death Penalty: 10 Arguments Against Capital Punishment” it states, “Since 1973, 144 prisoners on death row have been found to be innocent of the crimes for which they were convicted (Brook).” Opposers believe that there are too many incidents where innocent people have been executed for the wrong crime. Not only are they taking someone’s life for no reason but also leaving family members to grieve. The death penalty does not guarantee that the right person is being executed. There may be many complications. Another reason people oppose the death penalty is that it is known to be unconstitutional. The constitution is a very important part of America, it is one of the main reasons why America is considered to be a free country. Many individuals think that with the death penalty still legal, it violates the 8th Amendment. The 8th amendment states that Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. There are different ways to kill someone who is on death row. The electric chair happens to be one of them. Opposers think that when an officer straps someone to a specially built wooden chair and the individual is electrocuted through electrodes placed on the head and leg is a little excessive. That is the cruel and unusual part regarding this punishment. In addition to why people believe the death penalty should be abolished, is because it cost a lot of money. In a recent article that was published in 2016, called Is Death Cost-Efficient? Jazmine Ulloa acknowledges that “prominent supporters of the measure repeatedly pointed out that the state's taxpayers have spent 5 billion dollars on the execution of only 13