Argumentative Essay: Opponents Of The Death Penalty

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“Proponents of the death penalty say it is an important tool for preserving law and order, deters crime, and costs less than life imprisonment. They argue that retribution or "an eye for an eye" honors the victim, helps console grieving families, and ensures that the perpetrators of heinous crimes never have an opportunity to cause future tragedy”(ProCon.org, 2016).Taking each point as it applies to the pros and cons enables the person to understand the debate. Seeking understanding of these opposing points of view allows the person to evaluate his own view point while offering insight into the evidence of both sides of the issue. Those that cite the advantages of the death penalty “see it as a very important tool in fighting violent pre-meditated …show more content…
It gives prosecutors another bargaining chip in the plea bargain process, which is essential in cutting costs in an overcrowded court system. Dissecting each of these points is essential to obtain proper understanding. Society admits that the family of the victim suffers boundlessly. It is the position of death penalty advocates that victim’s families receive a form of vindicated justice when the perpetrator of the crime pays the ultimate price. They also contend that the family feels a sense of security in knowing that the perpetrator can never hurt another person.
Additionally, they believe that major crime would decrease because the risk of the death penalty is real. “Nothing will deter a criminal more than the fear of death…life in prison is less feared” (Should the Death Penalty Be Allowed?, 2016). This position is shared by those with religious ties who belief in the term “eye for an eye”. “A report by the National Research Council, titled Deterrence and the Death Penalty, stated that studies claiming that the death penalty has a deterrent effect on murder rates are “fundamentally flawed” and should not be used when making policy decisions (2012)” (Death Penalty Information Center, 2016). Amazingly, “88% of those polled rejected the notion that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to murder. (Radelet & Lacock, 2009)” (Death Penalty Information Center,

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