Death Penalty Debate
“For centuries the death penalty, often accompanied by barbarous refinements, has been trying to hold crime in check; yet crime persists. Why? Because the instincts that are warring in man are not, as the law claims, constant forces in a state of equilibrium.” (Albert Camus) In California we still utilize the death penalty as punishment for crimes such as rape or murder, but just because these people have committed these crimes is it morally right to kill them. No matter what precautions we take, restrictions, or consequences created, people will continue to commit crimes. California should vote to get rid of the death penalty due to, innocent people being killed for crimes they didn’t commit, the fact it doesn't prevent future crimes, and the overall cost of death row.
Having the state kill someone for committing a crime seems all in good, but that all changes when the state kills an innocent person. In death row, researchers have found that at least one out of nine people sentenced to death are innocent. Gary Gauger, a man wrongly convicted for a crime he didn’t do spent part of his life in death row (www.northwestern.edu). He is lucky that his lawyer was able to prove him innocent. Gary is just one example of an innocent person sentenced to death. If one out of nine planes crashed after takeoff it would be unacceptable, so why is it ok when applied to a human life? Even if the person on death row is found to be innocent then part of their life has just been wasted and can never be regained.
This brings us to the topic of is it morally right to kill someone. If we do kill an innocent person isn’t it the same exact situation if we kill a murderer. Some would say that it’s good that we kill these terrible people who are so obviously not able to be put back into society, and that it is ok because these people have done the unspeakable and death is a rightful punishment. Yes this is slightly true but, once again one person out of those nine murderers and rapists is a person just like you. Besides, many of these crimes are spur of the moment things and are not based off of rational thinking, only instinct or lust. The death penalty does not deter criminals from committing crimes.
Even though the death penalty is in effect, numerous Studies in Oklahoma and California failed to find that capital punishment had a deterrent effect on violent crime and, in fact, found a significant increase in stranger killings and homicide rates after the death penalty had been reinstated. (William Bailey) So, if homicides and killings have increased, then we should get rid of the death penalty. It has no physical proof that it works, you wouldn’t sell a car that does not work.
People who murder or rape someone do not often think about what they are doing prior to committing the crimes, and often think they will get away with what they are doing. “The man that does not fear punishment, little regards crime.” (Norman Macdonald). Many people would say the death penalty if good because it provides a certain “fear factor” so criminals won't commit future crimes due to the fear of the death penalty. The murder rate in Canada has dropped by 27% since the death penalty was abolished in that country in 1976. (Amnesty International). As stated before people commit crimes every day and will continue committing these crimes without thought of their potential demise via capital punishment. the death penalty does not just apply to the morality issue, but to the economic issue as well.
The cost of death row is way too much, and would be better spent elsewhere. The cost of the death penalty in California has totaled over $4 billion since 1978 (deathpenaltyinfo.org). This amount of money spent on death row is outrageous. Over four billion dollars could have been spent on schools and national parks. Instead California finds it ok to waste this money on holding prisoners for years, waiting for execution. This money could be used better in numerous ways than on our prisoner populous. Others might argue that prisoners don't spend that much time on death row and families can have peace of mind knowing these people can no longer hurt their family. Death row inmates in the U.S. typically spend over a decade awaiting execution. Some prisoners have been on death row for well over 20 years. (deathpenaltyinfo.org). The same “peace of mind” can be brought by knowing that person is sentenced for life in prison without chance of parole.
In all the death penalty should be removed from California’s legal system due to innocent people being wrongly convicted, the fact it doesn't deter criminals, and the high cost for maintaining death row. This issue is important because not only is the cost of death row outrageous, it wrong to kill someone for what they have done in the past and that is why we should repeal the death penalty. Many find this topic controversial, but it is one that needs to be addressed.
Having the state kill someone for committing a crime seems all in good, but that all changes when the state kills an innocent person. In death row, researchers have found that at least one out of nine people sentenced to death are innocent. Gary Gauger, a man wrongly convicted for a crime he didn’t do spent part of his life in death row (www.northwestern.edu). He is lucky that his lawyer was able to prove him innocent. Gary is just one example of an innocent person sentenced to death. If one out of nine planes crashed after takeoff it would be unacceptable, so why is it ok when applied to a human life? Even if the person on death row is found to be innocent then part of their life has just been wasted and can never be regained.
This brings us to the topic of is it morally right to kill someone. If we do kill an innocent person isn’t it the same exact situation if we kill a murderer. Some would say that it’s good that we kill these terrible people who are so obviously not able to be put back into society, and that it is ok because these people have done the unspeakable and death is a rightful punishment. Yes this is slightly true but, once again one person out of those nine murderers and rapists is a person just like you. Besides, many of these crimes are spur of the moment things and are not based off of rational thinking, only instinct or lust. The death penalty does not deter criminals from committing crimes.
Even though the death penalty is in effect, numerous Studies in Oklahoma and California failed to find that capital punishment had a deterrent effect on violent crime and, in fact, found a significant increase in stranger killings and homicide rates after the death penalty had been reinstated. (William Bailey) So, if homicides and killings have increased, then we should get rid of the death penalty. It has no physical proof that it works, you wouldn’t sell a car that does not work.
People who murder or rape someone do not often think about what they are doing prior to committing the crimes, and often think they will get away with what they are doing. “The man that does not fear punishment, little regards crime.” (Norman Macdonald). Many people would say the death penalty if good because it provides a certain “fear factor” so criminals won't commit future crimes due to the fear of the death penalty. The murder rate in Canada has dropped by 27% since the death penalty was abolished in that country in 1976. (Amnesty International). As stated before people commit crimes every day and will continue committing these crimes without thought of their potential demise via capital punishment. the death penalty does not just apply to the morality issue, but to the economic issue as well.
The cost of death row is way too much, and would be better spent elsewhere. The cost of the death penalty in California has totaled over $4 billion since 1978 (deathpenaltyinfo.org). This amount of money spent on death row is outrageous. Over four billion dollars could have been spent on schools and national parks. Instead California finds it ok to waste this money on holding prisoners for years, waiting for execution. This money could be used better in numerous ways than on our prisoner populous. Others might argue that prisoners don't spend that much time on death row and families can have peace of mind knowing these people can no longer hurt their family. Death row inmates in the U.S. typically spend over a decade awaiting execution. Some prisoners have been on death row for well over 20 years. (deathpenaltyinfo.org). The same “peace of mind” can be brought by knowing that person is sentenced for life in prison without chance of parole.
In all the death penalty should be removed from California’s legal system due to innocent people being wrongly convicted, the fact it doesn't deter criminals, and the high cost for maintaining death row. This issue is important because not only is the cost of death row outrageous, it wrong to kill someone for what they have done in the past and that is why we should repeal the death penalty. Many find this topic controversial, but it is one that needs to be addressed.