Preview

Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right (Death Penalty)

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
412 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right (Death Penalty)
There are many things wrong with today's growing society; however, I believe the death penalty is the worst. I am strongly against the death penalty because it sets a bad example for our society, prisoners could be wrongly convicted, and it is cruel and unusual punishment.
Our youth is learning from our actions. If a Timmy gets punched during recess, does the teacher advocate Timmy to punch the other child back? No, this is the type of example we are setting for our youth. As they grow up, they are faced with difficult situations in which they must use their best judgment. Do you expect them to make the right decision if their "role models" are being hypocritical?
Secondly, how would you feel if an innocent man who had done nothing wrong died? Throughout the history of the death penalty, there were numerous cases in which it is determined that the person executed did not commit the crime. New evidence maybe found years after the individual has been put to death. There is no way to say sorry and get that person's life back. Also, the person accused maybe too poor to hire an adequate lawyer. The court appointed attorneys are often too over-worked and inexperienced to be of adequate assistance to the accused. Therefore, the person is convicted of a crime they didn't commit and subsequently put to death. I believe if society is ready to have a person executed, the supporters should be sure the accused received a fair trial.
The death penalty is also cruel and unusual punishment. To extinguish a person's life is cruel no matter what way it is administered. Many states believe it is "suitable" to execute someone since they have upgraded from the traditional electric chair to the more modern gas chamber. Any way of executing someone is barbaric. If every crime's punishment was "tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye'" what would happen to society? Would the same people that support the death penalty, support getting their hand chopped off for shop-lifting?
The death

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The death penalty is a very controversial topic that some may oppose while others assent. I have read two interesting essays about the death penalty. One is entitled “The Penalty of Death” by H.L Mencken and the other “Execution” by Anna Quindlen. Both authors presented their arguments and used great points to support their opinions. H.L Mencken is for the death penalty while Anna Quindlen is against it. After reading these two authors work I was able to form my own opinion on this punishment. I condone the death penalty despite how cruel it may be.…

    • 311 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Some people might agree with the death penalty. Families get devastated when someone they love and care about has died. Its different when that person they care so much about has been murdered or killed. People tend to hate that person and have the urge to do just about anything to them in order for them to suffer, which causes us to take, revenge on them. This matter has lead to the death penalty. This is a punishment that slowly kills the man or woman that has committed the crime. Why should we have pity on those who choose to kill? If they felt powerful enough to kill, then we should be able to do the same to them. Whatever their reason is that they choose to kill they should be punished someway, somehow.…

    • 288 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Additionally, capital punishment has always been a controversial issue in several disciplines, such as law, philosophy, ethics and sociology, with some arguing that capital punishment is not only unacceptable but ethically irresponsible especially in this day and age. Others argue that it serves as a powerful deterrent for prospective criminals and acts as a safeguard for society to prevent the most dangerous criminals from ever having the chance to reoffend.…

    • 1255 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The death penalty is used universally, in developed countries, as well as, in undeveloped countries. The death penalty is used more for retribution and retaliation than it is for justice. The death penalty does not deter crime effectively, it is incompatible with human rights and human dignity, used against minorities and the poor, and there is always the risk of executing innocent people. Its easy to agree to the death penalty when the accused is not someone you know...bu what if the accused was your son, daughter, father, mother, brother, or sister? Would you still be for the death penalty?…

    • 100 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The death penalty does not belong in this society.It causes many innocent people to be unjustly killed.It is inhuman and criminals deserve to rot in prison, not die and be free.therefore everyone should strongly oppose the horrific death…

    • 303 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Capital punishment is outdated, irreversible, hypocritical, and ineffective and deterring criminals, and should therefore be abolished. There are many things wrong with executing criminals, but some of the most compelling reasons are these: it is barbaric, does not positively affect murder rates, and to put it simply, two wrongs do not make a right.…

    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The death penalty has been a criminal sentence imposed in America for hundreds of years, but it have been extremely controversial as Evan Mandery illustrates in “A Wild Justice: The Death and Resurrection of Capital Punishment in America.” Today, the death sentence is strictly used in murder cases and in thirty-two out of the fifty states in America. 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. Throughout American history, many individuals have supported the death penalty because they believe it is an effective way to deter crime and is a form of retribution. Others have strongly advocated against capital punishment because it is not morally correct and it not applied fairly. Also, some argue that it is unconstitutional to use the death penalty because it violates the cruel and unusual punishment provision of the Eight Amendment written in the United States Constitution.…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It is one of the biggest topics to debate over; is it right to execute or is it cruel and unusual? I for one, think that the death penalty should not be around. I believe it is the ‘easy way out’ for criminals. I believe if someone does something wrong, they should have the upmost punishment. Not only to be put to death and be done with the crime.…

    • 965 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Pojman Death Penalty

    • 2171 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Capital Punishment in the United States is something that people in our country have never agreed on. For instance the death penalty is not even used in many of the states. The two stances that people take are that the death penalty should be eliminated completely or that it should be used often nationwide with no state exception. My stance on the issue is that the death penalty is wrong and that the United States needs to get rid of it like most civilized countries of this era have.…

    • 2171 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Unjust Conviction

    • 1450 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Many unjust convictions have shown that there are serious flaws in the Justice System, which have lead to innocent people being lead down death row. As a nation, we are coming up with more ways to fix the system so those who are innocent do not suffer, but many do still think that the death penalty should not even be a possibility should an innocent individual be found guilty. The question that remains though is, Even with all the Flaws in The Judicial system, and all the innocent convicted, should the Death Penalty be used, and should it be used at…

    • 1450 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Death Penalty

    • 2140 Words
    • 9 Pages

    There are many differences in the way people view the death penalty. Some are against it and some agree with it. There have been many studies trying to prove or disprove a point regarding the death penalty. Some have regarded the death penalty as a hindrance, and some have regarded it as state sanctioned murder and not civilized. The death penalty has been linked to societies for hundreds of years. More recently, as we become more civilized, the death penalty has been questioned on if it is the correct way to so enforce justice on the people. The death penalty is a highly controversial subject. No one knows who’s right or who’s wrong-it’s fifty percent speculation and fifty percent research. It’s just a lot of thoughts and beliefs from people who have contributed to the death penalty controversy. Who’s right and who’s wrong? That is the question.…

    • 2140 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are few policies that produce as much debate, controversy and emotion in this country as the death penalty. Capital punishment has been around in this country since colonial times when people were killed for practicing witchcraft and today the death penalty is legal in 31 states. Since 1976, 1414 people have been executed in the U.S. (deathpenaltyinfo.org). People who favor capital punishment believe that if someone brutally take's another person's life then they should lose their own right to life. However, in taking a closer look at the death penalty, there are many problems associated with it such as that is is morally wrong, the botching of executions, the execution of innocent people, and the fact that it is a flawed system…

    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Some people are against the killing of others for any reasons. Other people feel that certain crimes should be punished by death. The death penalty is a very controversial topic in the United States today and has been for a number of years, because people's life is at risk. The reviewing the numbers of facts prove that the death penalty should not be enforced. I think death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights. It violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment. It should be abolished in this country it's racial discrimination, the financial cost and barbarity.…

    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Death Penalty In America

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The death penalty in the United States of America is a topic that many people could have both negative and positive reactions toward. Everyday there is a murder being made, whether it's a small type of crime or a large type of crime. Someone gets killed and justice is either served or not, depending if the murderer is caught. Some say we live in a freedom type where we are free to do whatever we want. However, that is not the case. There are laws in the United States that citizens of must follow and comprehend in order to not receive punishment. That type of punishment can vary based on the type of crime which had took place.…

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    One of the worst ways of dying is the death penalty, so it should be abolished.…

    • 383 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays