Capital

Punishment

Kim Table of contents Reasons .............................................................................................................................................................4 Punishments ...................................................................................................................................................5 Conclusion........................................................................................................................................................6

Kim Outline I. Introduction II. Reasons A. Innocent B. Guilty III. Conclusion

Kim Juhee Kim Mr. Coyner English 12 August 2011 Capital punishment What is the death sentence? Execution can be seen in two ways. It can be a way to

keep the world safe but it can also be a murderous way to give us a false sense of security. People might try to argue that capital punishment is best for the society, but in the end they are all just trying to make excuse to make them feel safer. Capital punishment is a useless way to prove that people are helping society. Reasons Capital punishment is the death penalty. The capital punishment has been going on since humans recorded history. In the beginning it wasnt called capital punishment, but it was just a harsh punishment for extreme crimes (Reggio). In 58 countries the death penalty is permitted and used, in 95 countries the death penalty is outlawed, 9 counties that use it for drastic crimes and the other countries havent used the capital punishment in 10 years or they only allow the death penalty in special occasions (Abolitionist). Now most countries use the lethal injection to kill the accused and to prevent pain, but recently there have been scientific augments whether pain is related or not (BBC - Ethics). Over time people had different opinions and arguments relating to the capital punishment but the world still hasnt gotten an explicit conclusion.

student 8/15/11 10:52 PM Comment: Who is us referring to? Seem to informal

student 8/15/11 10:52 PM Deleted: all over the world

student 8/15/11 10:55 PM Comment: Used to much change to execution, death penalty, etc.

Kim Capital punishment would be more effective as a preventive measure if it were administered prior to the crime.

The main flaw of the capital punishment is that many innocent people suffer (BBC Ethics). One obvious way innocent people suffer is that innocent people get accused of a crime they didn't do and get the capital punishment. This is not their fault that they were at the wrong place at the wrong time or that they trusted the wrong person. There are many of these unfortunates such as Gary Graham (BBC News | AMERICAS) and Cameron Todd Willingham (Mills). There are other people who get accused go through trial get sentenced to die then get released. These are the more fortunate yet still unfortunate people. In the US since 1973 more than 116 innocent people had to go through these situations (BBC Ethics). The last type of innocent people who had to suffer is the families of the victims and the accused. The family of the accused loses a family member, possibly their only family member (Messerli). The family of the victims goes through all the trials and emotional pain along with invasion of their lives from the public ("BBC NEWS | UK |). Capital punishment leads to negative effects for all people whether they are the victims or the accused. Punishments The big question is, Does capital punishment make our lives better? The answer is simple, no. The one main reason people support the idea of capital punishment is because they thing that people should get what they deserve, but this idea is full of flaws. If you look at it in another way it can look like a way of revenge. Also at first the victims side might want the person dead, but later many regret. One example of this situation is, Aba Gayle whose daughter was killed by Douglas Mickey. Aba Gayle forgave him after 8 years of hate, and then
student 8/15/11 10:55 PM Deleted: that

Kim

she actually fought to keep him alive (The place). Now Aba Gayle is considering him a good friend (Beiser). In the US it was proven that the states with the death penalty have a higher rate of murder (BBC - Ethics). Does this sound like the capital punishment is helping? To add to that fact, everyone always says that its unfair to pay taxes for keeping prisoners in prison and provide for their needs, but capital punishment isnt cheap either. Depending on the price of the trials the price can vary, but its usually more expensive (Messerli). One example is that when the Oklahoma City Bombing happened it took $13 million to convict and execute Timothy McVeigh (BBC - Ethics). everyone should know that. Conclusion Capital punishment forces one human being to take another humans life and that is The capital punishment has many negatives and

wrong. We are humans not God we dont decide if another person gets to live or not. One of the most logic quotes are said by the US Catholic conference We cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing. Also another quote is To take a life when a life has been lost is revenge it is not justice. Archbishop Desmond Tutu said this. Life is a gift we were given and so we mustnt take other peoples gifts away. Capital punishment doesn't come from the right motives and leaves great regret.

It doesnt help the world it kills innocent hurts them and it takes even more lives than there is already lost. What do you think about the capital punishment now? Now go out and spread the truth about capital punishment.

Kim

References
Armstrong, Ken, and Steve Mills. "Part 1: Death Row Justice Derailed." Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune, 14 Nov. 1999. Web. 22 May 2011. <http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/chi-

991114deathillinois1,0,4002543.story>.