A Strong Argument Against Capital Punishment Analysis

In “A Strong Argument Against Capital Punishment”, Lincoln Caplan expands upon Connecticut's recent choices about capital punishment. Connecticut is one of several states in the United States that brought the issue of capital punishment to the Supreme Court for debate and discussion. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the death penalty is unconstitutional in the state of Connecticut. In this debate, the Democratic legislative side leaned against capital punishment; while the Republican legislative side leaned towards capital punishment. The Democratic side reasons that the death penalty violates the state constitution against excessive punishments. The Republican side, found it immoral to not punish someone because of an illegal crime he or she committed. Lawyers and other public individuals in the debate discussed several different minority groups and social, economic, and political classes of Americans tried for the death penalty. The majority of people, including the Connecticut legislature, determined the death penalty as an unnecessary punishment for all people who commit a major crime …show more content…
Caplan provides specific details about Connecticut’s decisions drawn upon history, unfairness, and death to rule the death penalty as an unnecessary punishment. He appeals through ethos with his law background and knowledge in Connecticut’s Supreme Court system. Caplan's knowledge makes his readers question their stance on the issue and change their views. He uses detailed accounts of his personal experiences in court to create confidence in his opinion. “The resolve and the reasoning of the Connecticut Supreme Court’s ruling make it far more important than simply a declaration by one more state that capital punishment is cruel and unusual and must be ended” (Caplan, 2017, pg. 4). He clearly states that he does not agree with capital