Confutatio: Used as a common position against capital punishment, the right of and outreach for common humanity is expressed by many who oppose this course of action. This view is primarily derived from biblical text stating “thou shalt not kill”. From this viewpoint, the argument that killing someone – even when they killed someone themselves – goes against this divinely appointed commandment. It is therefore not an appropriate remedy towards the issue. In a statement given in March 2011 by the Chapter of Amnesty International of Yale University, the position of human values being in danger is discussed. As the article states, “The death penalty is an attack on our foundational and universal human dignity—our common humanity” (1). The statement
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In an article published by The Lancet. It says,” One of the most alarming of the outcomes of the death sentence is the exoneration of the condemned, sometimes through DNA evidence”. It continues to say that in the last forty-four years, one hundred and twenty six individual who were on death row were found not guilty of the crime they supposedly committed, and were falsely accused for reasons from untrustworthy witnesses to mental instability. While it is alarming that individuals are falsely accused of these types of crimes, one may also find that this reasoning of increased knowledge and subsequent exoneration of convicted persons may also be a strong argument in favor of the death sentence. Due to advanced technology, we are able to clear individuals of a crime they were suspected of before the death penalty is carried out, making capital punishment a more reliable and effective means of punishing criminals and bringing about justice. One example is that of Corey Omar Posley-Wells, a twenty-seven year old man who was convicted of killing Irene Kunze, a ninety year old woman. Reporter Jim Adams says, “Police linked him to the crime scene using a relatively new type of DNA technology that matched his DNA to that found in skin or body-fluid traces in her apartment”. His article continues on to describe the relief of the other …show more content…
Many argue that the death penalty is not a good form of punishment because people are more likely to sentence a person to death who is a different race. Therefore, the sentencing is unjust and does not serve as a form of justice. A survey in 2000 by the Federal Death Penalty System shows that 80% of cases that were submitted were influenced by racial bias. At least half of these cases had African Americans as the defendants (DPIC). With statistics such as these it’s hard to believe that there isn’t a system set up in order to lessen the amount of racial bias. There is in fact the Racial Justice Act which allows statistics to judge whether the racial bias played a part in sentencing the death sentence. If there is evidence of racial bias the judge can block the prosecutor from pursuing the death sentence or even overturn the jury’s decision (Evans). Racism affecting the death penalty is still a worrying dilemma but that doesn’t that mean that the crime they committed doesn’t warrant the death penalty. It would be equally unjust to let a murderer go free just because they are a different race from the
In an article published by The Lancet. It says,” One of the most alarming of the outcomes of the death sentence is the exoneration of the condemned, sometimes through DNA evidence”. It continues to say that in the last forty-four years, one hundred and twenty six individual who were on death row were found not guilty of the crime they supposedly committed, and were falsely accused for reasons from untrustworthy witnesses to mental instability. While it is alarming that individuals are falsely accused of these types of crimes, one may also find that this reasoning of increased knowledge and subsequent exoneration of convicted persons may also be a strong argument in favor of the death sentence. Due to advanced technology, we are able to clear individuals of a crime they were suspected of before the death penalty is carried out, making capital punishment a more reliable and effective means of punishing criminals and bringing about justice. One example is that of Corey Omar Posley-Wells, a twenty-seven year old man who was convicted of killing Irene Kunze, a ninety year old woman. Reporter Jim Adams says, “Police linked him to the crime scene using a relatively new type of DNA technology that matched his DNA to that found in skin or body-fluid traces in her apartment”. His article continues on to describe the relief of the other …show more content…
Many argue that the death penalty is not a good form of punishment because people are more likely to sentence a person to death who is a different race. Therefore, the sentencing is unjust and does not serve as a form of justice. A survey in 2000 by the Federal Death Penalty System shows that 80% of cases that were submitted were influenced by racial bias. At least half of these cases had African Americans as the defendants (DPIC). With statistics such as these it’s hard to believe that there isn’t a system set up in order to lessen the amount of racial bias. There is in fact the Racial Justice Act which allows statistics to judge whether the racial bias played a part in sentencing the death sentence. If there is evidence of racial bias the judge can block the prosecutor from pursuing the death sentence or even overturn the jury’s decision (Evans). Racism affecting the death penalty is still a worrying dilemma but that doesn’t that mean that the crime they committed doesn’t warrant the death penalty. It would be equally unjust to let a murderer go free just because they are a different race from the