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Death Penalty Argument Essay

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Death Penalty Argument Essay
Brittany Sayles
English 100/ Gianunzio
May 23rd, 2014
Research Essay: Rough Draft
Death Penalty: Unlawful

An ancient proverb provides that “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”, while the Code of Hammurabi in the 18th century B.C. likewise says that “if a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out, if he break another man’s bone, his bone shall be broken.” These moral principles are the foundation of capital punishment. For centuries, the laws of many states adhere to and enforce capital punishment as an infliction against heinous crimes. In essence, capital punishment is usually being observed to preserve peace and order and to prevent anarchy in the society. However, the enforcement of capital punishment raises some wrongful execution issues, is unmoral and unethical issues since it involves the killing of convicted criminals, and it is inhumane and is very depriving of anyone’s natural right which is the right to life. It is indeed very paradoxical that the state will allow the execution of a human person as a solution to crime and violence.
There are various ways to punish criminals all around the world in order to reduce criminality and provide security to civilians. I accept that sometimes capital punishment is necessary. However, I believe that death sentences are not fruitful in decreasing crime, violence and other offenses. In one hand, supports say that capital punishment deters crime effectively as people have fear of the death penalty which stops them from committing offences. Moreover, capital punishment defines seriousness of offence so before committing such offence person will think twice. Also, Death sentence is a form of revenge which gives a feeling of peace for victim. Otherwise many times a victim converted into offender in order to take revenge and punish accuse by own. Additionally, capital punishment is a way to avoid imprisonment cost which can otherwise be used by government in development. On other hand, I think


Cited: Easwaran, Eknath. Gandhi: The Man - The Story of His Transformation. Tomales: Nilgiri Press, 1997 International, Amnesty. "THE DEATH PENALTY IN 2013." Amnesty.org. Luci 's Trust, n.d. Web. 21 May 2014. Kronenwetter, Michael. 2001. Capital Punishment. Westport, CT: ABC-CLIO Mandery, Evan. 2011. Capital Punishment in America. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers McCafferty, James. 2009. Capital Punishment. Piscataway, NJ: Aldine Transaction
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