Executions Abolish Death Penalty example essay topic

Many of us have witnessed violence everywhere in our community. I, for one, am troubled by these cruel and useless acts. The need of justice and order is strongly recommended by the society. To set an example of discipline, the state is executing those accused of capital offense. But is violence a useful tool of peace and order?

Ending life for a life that has ended does not gain anything but satisfaction and vengeance. Death penalty is not a proper form of punishment and therefor be abolished. A huge part of the public regard the death penalty as a proper punishment for capital offense. They think it would present a strong sense of disciplinary measure to the public that desperately seek justice. However, these individuals are driven by their personal anguish and vengeful thoughts. True, they promote peace and harmony to create a world free of violence.

But incorporating violence with justice as a means of punishment contradicts to the basic principle of promoting peace in a society. "I understand the pain and deep anger felt by the families of murder victims. Yet I can't accept the judgement that condemns execution to the killers. This merely perpetuates the tragic unending cycle of violence that destroy our hope for a decent society", says Bernice King (qtd. in Norman p 1). The Early Christian teachings that were closely influenced by Christ were totally opposed to the death penalty (Robinson p 1). In Biblical times, Christ had saved an accused adulteress from being stoned to death by promoting the importance of forgiveness (John 8: 3-8: 11)".

He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her", Jesus had said. Without exception, life should not be ended prematurely. It deprives a person from possible atonement and salvation (Robinson p 3). Authors of reports stated that supporters of capital punishment explained the unfair implementation of death sentence as irrelevant evidence and a false accusation of unfairness and that it only reflects the different rates at which various races, ages and the economically incapably in U.S. currently commit murder (Naftali Bendavid p 1). However, in fact, it is unfairly distributed. Studies reported that an unusually high percentage of minorities are targeted by death sentence (R.L. Young).

"From 1995-2000, federal prosecutors sought death penalty for 180 defendants; 74% were minorities. Of the 21 people on federal death row as of Jun 2001, 81% were black and Hispanic" (qtd. in Naftali Bendavid p 1). Supporters of capital punishment also described the technicality and lawful standards in which they pride their basis of judgement that strictly prohibits any skeptical racism (Naftali Bendavid p 1). The Chicago Tribune, however, stated that abolitionists argue that the reports are flawed as to limit and confide issues from public apprehension. As unfortunate as they are, the poor and economically incapable are likely to result in death penalty. Some 90 percent of the inmates executed were represented with court-appointed lawyers which occasionally lack experience in the field of capital offense (Pierre Sane).

These poor convicts could probably present a strong appeal which could save them from unnecessary execution. Those in favor of death penalty argue that prosecutions are undertaken professionally and grounded with deliberate and precise procedures that which results to accurate and truthful judgements (Pierre Sane). Unlike machines and computers, however, human logic cannot achieve perfection. A chance of error may conclude the death of an innocent convict.

An accused man can be pardoned if proven innocent, however, in the case of death penalty, it " ll be too late. It is unwise and improper to execute a person knowing the basic fact of human error. According to a study by the Stanford Law Review, at least 350 innocent convicts in America might have been executed between 1900 and 1985. The fact that death penalty is irreversible, mistakes cannot be rectified (Pierre Sane). According to the American Convention on Human Rights, United States is one of the six countries that still execute juvenile offenders. Critics suggest that minors who commit murder shall not be excluded from capital punishment.

In a poll set by a website, 78% of the voters favored execution of child murderers. "Murderers shouldn't be able to use age to limit punishment", as summarized by the website. Regardless of the majority vote, poll voters against execution of child offenders argue that children are treated as minors which restrictions to legal and constitutional duties and social conduct that are reserved for adults (18 and above), such as drinking, smoking and voting, are imposed to and shall be restricted from capital punishment. Similarly, mentally impaired individuals "are incapable of fully comprehending either the nature of their crimes or the nature of their punishment", Jamie Fellner. This could most often cause a mentally impaired person to confess falsely to capital crimes (Human Rights Watch). According to the Texas Execution Information Center, an accused murderer of an 11 year old girl in 1990, Tony Chambers, confess to the crime although DNA evidence proved him innocent.

With a mental age of six, he could most probably be executed by his lack of normal logic. According to a report, 15 percent of the 3,000 inmates on the nation's death row suffer from mental retardation. Fellner said: "Executing adults with the minds of children is nothing short of barbaric; most supporters of the death penalty agree". Capital punishment increase murder crime rate in a society (Cheat wood). Adults argue that people neglect the fear of law implementing weak regulations and which could normally result to intentional crime. However, majority of the people who intentionally commit murder awaits death and are more concerned on life imprisonment.

In addition, people mostly commit murder by accident through the influence of drugs and alcohol. Indication of a decrease of crime rate have been clear in countries that do not have death penalty (Robinson p 3). The death penalty is, in fact, neglecting the sacred value of life and therefor reflect the increase of murder within the community. A study that was conducted referring to the high execution rate in Texas found no evidence of deterrent effect and reveals no relation to the murder rate in Texas (Wrinkle 481-93).

Death Penalty is expensive and can be substituted with a cheaper and moral form of punishment. Canada sentence serious case of murder with life imprisonment with no chance of parole (Robinson p 4). That way it saves money and present a strong deterrence to the society. The whole system of death penalty may cost about 2.3 million dollars compared to the 19.2 thousand dollars per year expense of life imprisonment (Amnesty Online). A survey by Zogby International revealed that majority of the capital punishment supporters prefer sentencing capital offenders with life imprisonment with no chance of parole ever as an alternative to death sentence.

It is cheaper, deterrent and prevents unfair execution to innocent people. The law must act now. Numerous religious and political movement hope to make a difference with the current brutal system of punishment. The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NC ADP), Maryland Coalition Against State, Program to Abolish the death penalty (PAD), I Dream a World and many other had intensely promoted their notion of conflict with the current issue. Together, we will put an end to this senseless and unusual cruelty. Executions Abolish death penalty!

Bibliography

Abolish Death Penalty for Minors?" Vote. com. 1999.
Bernice, King, "I Dream a World". Religious Organization Against Death Penalty. 6 Oct. 2003 Naftali Bendavid.
U.S. Study Rebuts Death Penalty Bias Critics: Reports on Race Issue Flawed". Chicago Tribune 7 Jun. 2001: pg.
2. Norman, Gary. "Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation". M VFR-Texas. 24 Oct. 2003.