A 3 page argumentative paper that argues against the death penalty. Murder is horrendous crime and it is usually a brutal crime. To many people, these facts justify the implementation of capital punishment. If someone murders, the state is seen as justified in taking the life of the murderer. However, the justice of this equation is built upon several assumptions that are problematic. Examination of these assumptions and their implications shows that arguments in favor of capital punishment do not hold up well under scrutiny, which suggests that the conclusion that capital punishment is poor public policy and constitutes an injustice unto itself. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
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justified in taking the life of the murderer. However, the justice of this equation is built upon several assumptions that are problematic. Examination of these assumptions and their implications shows
that arguments in favor of capital punishment do not hold up well under scrutiny, which suggests that the conclusion that capital punishment is poor public policy and constitutes an injustice
unto itself. One of the arguments offered to justify capital punishment is the idea that if an individual kills someone, he or she gives up the right to life.
However, this rationalization makes sense only if it is applied evenly (Sunil 17). Not every murderer is sentenced to death. Why is the reckless drunken driver who kills an entire
family not sentenced to death (Sunil 17). Why are the majority of people on death row African American when blacks make up only a small percentage of the overall US
population? Many law officers support the death penalty from a deeply held conviction that it works as a deterrent to crime (Sunil 17). However, other argue that this supreme penalty
has no deterrent effect on those criminals who are "opportunistic, calculating or overcome by drugs" (Sunil 17). Ted Goertzel points out that in this debate, opponents tend to select
the study results that support their position and ignore other research. Studies that compare homicide trends in states and countries that have capital punishment with those that do not inevitably
show that this penalty has no effect on homicide rates (Goertzel 23). However, some studies that rely on econometric modeling do show a relationship. These studies involve using a complex
mathematical formula that supposedly mirrors in numbers what happens in the real world (Goertzel 23). Experts who have evaluated this method have found it wanting. "There is simply too little
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