Death Penalty The Individual example essay topic

A Death for a Death? "Dead Man Walking!" This sound rings through each and every death row inmate numerous times a day. Capital punishment is one of the most controversial topics among Americans today. In the past, people have invariably felt that if they had been wronged in some way, it was his or her right to take vengeance on the person that had wronged them. This mentality still exists even today, but in a lesser form because the law has now outlined a person's rights and developed punishments that conform to those rights, yet we allow for retribution for their crime. However, some feel that those laws and punishments are too lax and that criminals of today take advantage of them.

To kill or not to kill? This is an extremely controversial question in today's society. Since we all have our own opinions on this topic, the question always raised is "Is it morally right". I personally think that the death penalty must be abolished. There are many reasons that society uses when imposing "punishment". Deterrence is defined, as "the punishment should fit the crime".

Under this concept, the individual committing the crime and society are prevented from committing this action again. In the case of death penalty, an individual kills another human and he is "punished" for it by death. Punishment is supposed to be a temporary penalization for a wrongful action. Death is far from temporary. One is to learn from one's mistakes. How can the person learn if they are paying for their mistake with their life?

By imposing death penalty the individual does not learn from their mistakes and neither does the society. The society is confused as to what is "right". Some people think that restitution is granted when one is sentenced to death penalty. However, if a loved one is murdered and his family feels justice in having the murderer done the same, is it not considered equally demented? Forgiving and forgetting are entirely out of the question, but one should consider the concept of regret and remorse. One is only human and no one can expect any more.

Everyone deserves a second chance because they are all capable of reformation. Capital punishment is a mistake. A mistake is a mistake, no matter whom it may harm or what destruction it may cause. It is now a modern world based on logic and transformation. Must we commit a crime to justify another?

If capital punishment was solely based on punishing the wrongdoers, there would be no one left to inject the needle or pull the lever. Everyone would be trying to fit into the chair. In conclusion, people should have a second chance in life. What good can a death from a death bring us?

Nothing. People should have to suffer misery in jail, not take their souls away. I don't necessarily feel that it is cruel and unusual punishment, however I do believe that the death penalty has a tendency to be racially biased. Furthermore, there is no evidence proving that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than other punishments, such as life imprisonment. For these reasons and more, I believe that the death penalty is an irrational form of punishment.