This editorial was written for my English class.
The question of whether or not capital punishment should remain legal is a hotly debated one. When I hear about a controversial issue, I make a point to thoroughly investigate both sides of the story before coming to a conclusion. After doing extensive research on the death penalty, I have come to believe that it is something that needs to be abolished. Executions are not only immoral, but expensive, and racist in nature.
Supporters of capital punishment claim that the threat of execution deters people from committing crimes. This is logical reasoning, but people fail to realize that most murders are committed in the “heat of passion” (Lori Ornellas), when the murderer cannot think rationally about the consequences. Publicizing crimes has also been shown to encourage crimes instead of prevent them (Lori Ornellas). For example, the number of victims the infamous Jack the Ripper had is unknown, since many of the killings are thought to be imitations by others. These imitations occurred after the first murder received publicity.
Some people claim that because life is “sacred”, anyone who takes the life of another should have their own taken away from them. How hypocritical is that? If the government wants to discourage Americans from killing each-other, it should begin by setting an example.
Research shows that many innocents have been wrongly executed. Since 1970, 140 Americans on death row have had their sentenced overturned by acquittal or pardon. Many of these people were only found innocent after their execution (deathpenaltyinfo.org).
Death penalty supporters claim that the methods of execution used today, such as lethal injection, are humane. How can killing another human being ever be seen as humane? In Furman v. Georgia, the Supreme Court declared the death penalty as unconstitutional on the basis that it was cruel and unusual punishment and violated the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. (Deborah White) This decision was later overturned, but has remained controversial. Capital punishment is absolutely barbaric. All arguments for the death penalty are fueled by revenge, not rational thinking.
Statistics show that life in prison is more cost effective than capital punishment. All the trials that criminals must go through before being executed are incredibly expensive. In Texas, the state with the most death penalties, the cost of executing a criminal is three times the cost of imprisoning him or her “in a single cell at the highest security for 40 years” (deathpenaltyinfo.org).
In 96% of states have had reviews of race and the death penalty, there was a history of race-of-victim discrimination, race-of-defendant discrimination, or both. Less white killers are sentenced to death than killers of other racial backgrounds.76% of the murder victims in cases resulting in an execution were white, even though nationally only about 50% of murder victims in America are white. In death penalty states, 98% of the chief district attorneys in are white, while only 1% is black. (deathpenaltyinfo.org)
Capital punishment needs to be illegalized. My proposed alternative, life in prison, is more cost effective and humane. Once a life is taken away, it can’t be given back.