How would you argue against this pro-death penalty point?

El Guapo

You'll find that most pro-death penalty arguments fall into one of three categories: (a) emotional ("how can you let this monster live???"), (b) religious ("an eye for an eye"), or (c) based on incorrect information (for example, many people believe that it costs taxpayers more to imprison someone for life, when in fact the opposite is true). Clearly the argument you've identified falls under (a) - it is completely understandable reaction, but nevertheless it is purely an emotional argument, not based in logic.

Luckily for you, the arguments against capital punishment are much more solid:

- Mistakes happen. In the last 35 years in the U.S., 130 people have been released from death row because they were exonerated by DNA evidence (DNA is not available in most homicide cases). Often it is the most gruesome crimes (like the one you describe) where the most mistakes are made - the public outcry puts enormous pressure on police, prosecutors and politicians to produce a suspect. History tells us that this is when we tend to see rushed investigations, tainted evidence, coerced confessions, etc.

- It costs taxpayers MUCH more to execute someone than to imprison them for life.

- It is not a deterrent - violent crime rates are HIGHER in death penalty jurisdictions.

- It is inconsistently and arbitrarily applied.

- For those who bring up Christian arguments, they should know that Jesus was against capital punishment (see Matthew 5:7 & 5:38-39, James 4:12, Romans 12:17-21, and John 8:7).

- Life without parole (LWOP) is on the books in most states now, and it means what it says. People who get this sentence are taken off the streets. For good.

I hope that helps. Check out the website below for some great stats & sources to back you up. Good luck in your debate!

OldTimey

I wouldn't.

tracymae64

The killer forfeited his/her right to live, when they committed that crime.

Fred Bear

O.k. You could try:

With the availability of DNA testing, many people have been found to be innocent of the crime for which they were originally found guilty. The old guilty "beyond doubt", may just be incorrect, and how many people have been executed in error in the past?

Justice in the form of an eye for an eye is an old biblical concept (and before) and dates from time immemorial.

No human on Earth has the right to take away another human life, even for revenge or blind justice.

No one can argue that justice is an eye for an eye.

Every criminal is a product of the society in which he/she lives and has grown up in. Every member of a society is responsible for the people it produces. No one is born a criminal. Everyone is born innocent and ends up as a product of their environment, their society, for which we are all responsible, good or bad, WE produce everyone withing our society. We need to look inside ourselves, into our systems, our society.

Edgeledge

Apparently the cost of maintaining a prisoner in prison for say 20 years is less than the cost to execute them. Given that there will always be legal appeals to all levels of the justice system right up until the termination and also the cost of maintaining in maximum security and the execution itself.

Pliny the Elder

Those dramatic events provide no proof that death is a more just sentence than lifetime imprisonment.

To present vivid and disturbing details of the horrible crimes that some very troubled people commit is only an appeal to the emotions, which is a logical fallacy. Powerful emotions don't lend themselves to sound logic, so the story of the murdered mother and her baby does nothing to demonstrate why death is justifiable. For that matter, who really knows if death, even for murderers, is any less pleasant than a lifetime of incarceration.

Dimunitive Juarez Griffin

That's a tough one.

I would suggest conceding that point, and making your case on your other points. Just let that one happen, and move away from it as quickly as possible to lessen its damage to your case.

Rod J

I would suggest that the option to take said felon into their care and support should be available for those who oppose the execution. Of course, they would also be held accountable for any future anti-social acts of their charge.

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