Capital Punishment

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how capital punishment (also called the death penalty) is a highly contentious issue with both the advocates and opponents advancing numerous ethical, moral, and economic arguments for and against the continuance of the practice. While respecting the views of some of the committed pacifists who oppose capital punishment, the paper contends that we should maintain the death penalty in the United States for serious crime. It supports this contention by refuting some of the major arguments against capital punishment, besides presenting a few valid points in support of continuing the death penalty.

From the Paper:

"One of the main arguments against the practice of death penalty is that it violates the 'right of life' of every individual. This argument, to my mind is preposterous, and an insult to the memory of the victims of serious crimes such as pre-meditated murders and rape of young children. How can a vicious murderer who has knowingly taken away an innocent life and callously disregarded the victims 'right to life' still lay claim to his own 'right to life'? I believe that such criminals, after taking away the life of another human being, forfeit their right to live, and the society then has an obligation to judge whether the crime was serious enough to deserve a death penalty."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Deterrence: States Without the Death Penalty Fared Better Over Past Decade." (2006). Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved on September 26, 2006 from http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=12&did=168
• Eddlem, T.R. (2002). "Ten Anti-Death Penalty Fallacies." The New American. Vol. 18, No. 11. June 3, 2002. Retrieved on September 26, 2006 from http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2002/06-03-2002/vo18no11_fallacies.htm
• Jacoby, J. (1998). "The Unjust Logic of Sparing Murderers." Boston Globe. August 1998. Retrieved on September 26, 2006 from
• http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/Jacoby2.htm
• Lowe, W. (2006). Pro Death Penalty Webpage. Retrieved on September 26, 2006 from http://www.wesleylowe.com/cp.html

More papers on Capital Punishment:

• Argumentative Essay # 22661 : "Capital Punishment and the Washington Sniper"
• Argumentative Essay # 148116 : "Does Capital Punishment Deter Murder?"
• Analytical Essay # 86172 : "Capital Punishment in Texas"
• Analytical Essay # 130903 : "Religion and Capital Punishment"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: