The death penalty is one of the most controversial topics in the world. Advocates for the death penalty argue that it’s fair when criminals have committed serious crimes; these crimes include murder, terrorism, genocide, etc. The death penalty can also provide justice to victims and their families. However, critics of the death penalty argue for moral concerns; they believe that it’s murder and inhumane. Overall, the debate over whether the death penalty is fair or not is an extremely complex topic.
Considerations of the death penalty
There are a lot of things to think about when considering the death penalty. There could be a risk of a wrong conviction, where an innocent person could be executed. For example, a man named Marcellus Williams faced the death penalty by lethal injection in Missouri on Sept. 24. Williams was accused of the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle. A majority of the public believes that he didn’t commit the crime, and that this was the murder of an innocent man.
“There was even evidence proving that Marcellus was inn0cent, yet he still faced the death penalty,” Marquise Buckley (11) said. Since the death penalty is irreversible, there could be a ton of legal issues following if said person is later proved innocent.
There can also be other complications when considering the death penalty such as ethical and moral issues, involving human rights. While the death penalty can offer deterrence and justice to victims and their families, does taking someone’s life violate the principles of the sanctity of life? Is it morally right to have this extreme punishment for “justice” under the legal system? These are some of the many things you should carefully consider when forming an argument, for or against the death penalty.
Arguments in favor of the death penalty
The main argument for the death penalty is that it’s retribution, providing justice to victims and their families. It can deter people from committing extreme crimes. However, advocates also believe that it can provide moral clarity when distinguishing between right and wrong. Off the topic of morality, an important question to ask is what if said criminal applies for parole? This can bring back tons of emotions for victims’ families with all of the legal processes involved, and not give them “justice.” Generally speaking, advocates believe that the death penalty can help to keep a safer world for the public.
When asking students at Liberty their personal opinion on the death penalty, I gathered some favoring perspectives.
“I think that it’s unfair and everyone deserves to live no matter how bad their crime is,” Alanna Orton (11) said.
“It’s justified because if their crime is that extreme, it’s an eye for an eye,” Cooper Gilliam (11) said.
These positions on the debate of the death penalty are important to understand when forming your opinion.
Arguments against the death penalty
Critics against the death penalty believe that it’s a violation of human rights and it’s morally wrong. They argue that it can promote a cycle of violence, diminishing the value of human life. Arguments against the death penalty also suggest that it can be a miscarriage of power and justice, while lacking deterrence. The cost being very expensive to carry these processes out, is one of the major downsides to the death penalty as well. However, critics’ biggest argument is that it’s inhumane to kill criminals for their crimes.
When asking students at Liberty their personal opinion on the death penalty, I gathered perspectives against it.
“I think that the death penalty is a cheap way out to criminals who do real harm, and it’s not real justice to victims,” Marquise Buckley (11) said.
“If the crime is so bad as to deserve the death penalty, they deserve to rot in jail for the rest of their life,” Brailyn Sullivan (11) said.
These viewpoints are crucial to be open-minded to when considering the death penalty.
In conclusion, the debate over the death penalty involves complex considerations of justice and morality. While it can offer a sense of retribution and deterrence, there can also be moral and injustice concerns. These are some of the many complications to think about when considering the death penalty. These topics alone present significantly different and complicated arguments. Ultimately, the controversy of the death penalty should be carefully considered and heavily researched when forming your own argument.