Arguments for the Death Penalty

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Current Events Editorial 38 states in the U.S. have the death penalty. I am for the death penalty. I believe it should be used if an intentional murder was committed, and the suspect was identified by an eyewitness and DNA tests. Also, the suspect had to be normal, as in no mental retardation, or not being drunk or high on drugs. There are a lot of arguments on why the death penalty should and shouldn’t be used. One argument is that the DP (death penalty) prevents future murders. Supporters say that the killer will think twice before the murder and will realize that he could be executed, while opponents have actual numbers saying murders have increased and the killer doesn’t care. I agree that it doesn’t prevent future murders but it does prevent the killer from going and killing more people. Another argument is to use the DP for the taking of a life. Supporters say when someone takes a life, the balance of justice is disturbed and so you need to take that persons life. It’s like the old saying, an eye for an eye and a life for a life. Opponents say the exact opposite. They say that today’s society is mature and shouldn’t inflict violence. It teaches people to use violence. We do not allow torturing the torturer, or raping the rapist. In my opinion, I think we should resort to violence and take the killers life. Executing the innocent is a rare but acceptable risk of the death penalty. Supporters of this argument say that there is no proof that any innocent person has actually been executed since more safety was added to the DP in the 1970s. Even if such executions have occurred, they are very rare. Opponents say once an inmate is executed, nothing can be done to reverse it. There is evidence too that mistakes have been made. Since 1973, at least 121 out of 982 people have been released from death row after evidence of their innocence emerged (website). I
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