Edward Koch's Essay On Capital Punishment Affirms Life
Courtney Byars
007
Analytical Response 1
Analysis of Edward I. Koch’s Essay on “Capital Punishment” Edward I. Koch, long active in Democratic politics, was mayor of New York from 1978 to 1989. “Death and Justice: How Capital Punishment Affirms Life” first appeared in the New Republic in 1985, while he was still mayor. The audience of the essay is the people of New York, readers of the New Republic, and anyone who is interested in learning more about capital punishment. In his essay, Koch explains the reasons why he supports capital punishment by examining seven arguments most often heard in opposition. Koch’s third of the seven arguments he made was toward the statement, “An innocent person might be executed by mistake” (485). He argues that without the death penalty, a murderer could be freed from prison and will continue to kill after they …show more content…
He shows his opinion towards a statement made by an individual against capital punishment. Koch believes the death penalty will help the innocent people be safer. By executing the murderer, there will be no chance of him or her being released and committing another crime. Koch’s argument is effective because precautions should be taken when the lives of innocent citizens are in danger. In New Jersey, Richard Biegenwald served eighteen years in prison. After serving the years in prison for murder, Beigenwald was freed. He has been convicted of committing four murders since his release (485). Another example Koch uses to support his argument is that New York has no death penalty statue. In one year, New York arrested eighty-five people for homicide. All of these people had been arrested for murder previously in their lives (486). Using these examples to support his argument was very effective because it shows the reader what could eventually happen without capital
007
Analytical Response 1
Analysis of Edward I. Koch’s Essay on “Capital Punishment” Edward I. Koch, long active in Democratic politics, was mayor of New York from 1978 to 1989. “Death and Justice: How Capital Punishment Affirms Life” first appeared in the New Republic in 1985, while he was still mayor. The audience of the essay is the people of New York, readers of the New Republic, and anyone who is interested in learning more about capital punishment. In his essay, Koch explains the reasons why he supports capital punishment by examining seven arguments most often heard in opposition. Koch’s third of the seven arguments he made was toward the statement, “An innocent person might be executed by mistake” (485). He argues that without the death penalty, a murderer could be freed from prison and will continue to kill after they …show more content…
He shows his opinion towards a statement made by an individual against capital punishment. Koch believes the death penalty will help the innocent people be safer. By executing the murderer, there will be no chance of him or her being released and committing another crime. Koch’s argument is effective because precautions should be taken when the lives of innocent citizens are in danger. In New Jersey, Richard Biegenwald served eighteen years in prison. After serving the years in prison for murder, Beigenwald was freed. He has been convicted of committing four murders since his release (485). Another example Koch uses to support his argument is that New York has no death penalty statue. In one year, New York arrested eighty-five people for homicide. All of these people had been arrested for murder previously in their lives (486). Using these examples to support his argument was very effective because it shows the reader what could eventually happen without capital