Wegner 1
Luke Wegner
Martha Maurno
English 110C TR
November 30, 2012
An Argument in Support of the Death Penalty
The death penalty will always be a topic that is heavily discussed and debated due to its
high level of importance. Any issue concerning the taking away of life in any way at all is one
that faces incredible amounts of opposition but there are instances that present themselves in a
manner where execution is the sound option. People like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy did
not have any reason to remain living in this world. Both were executed for their heinous serial
crimes which involved murdering, raping, and torturing more than 70 people combined. Those
that end up being executed are making the decision to plunge into an area of extremely immoral
behavior and destitute standing in the eyes of normal society. A quote from Bruce Fein, J.D.
sums up the practice of executions succinctly by saying, “The death penalty honors human
dignity by treating the defendant as a free moral actor able to control his own destiny for good or
for ill; it does not treat him as an animal with no moral sense” (ProCon.org). Every human has
the ability to bring about positive change in the world and even more of an ability to not horribly
corrupt and defile life for others considering it is much more of a conscious decision to do
wrong. Justice and the law are theoretically and to the best of the ability of all involved in the
system, blind. The death penalty while extreme is not barbaric and merciless in the modern day
world by any means. The UN decided in 1966 that the “death penalty shall not be imposed on
pregnant women or on those who were under the age of 18 at the time of the crime” (Amnesty
Wegner 2
International). This provision protects those that would be deemed as untouchable in the eyes of
a forced execution by an overwhelming majority of the world. “In 2005, there were 16,692 cases
of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter nationally. There were 60 executions” (FOX News).
That would be 0.36% of murder cases resulting in execution. The death penalty is certainly not
slung about aimlessly or used to set a needless example. Cases that involve capital punishment
are heavily considered and debated as well as given ample amount of time to appeal and strive to
exonerate.
Absolute retribution and vengeance are basic human desires. Those that seek punishment
wish for it to be swift and fitting for the crime committed. Execution would be well within
reason for crimes such as multiple murders, rape, kidnapping, torture, etc. as they are among a
special class of “unforgivable” trespasses. The moral objection for the death penalty stems from
biblical times. Numerous and public executions were spectacles for all to see for many thousands
to witness. This is evidenced by the gladiator arena in ancient Rome as well as stonings in the
Middle East. The practice of ending a life for atonement is no longer entertainment but is strictly
in practice to bring about the necessary actions for wrong doings. Even more so, modern
executions lean heavily towards lethal injection, which is arguably the least painful form. The
electric chair is steadily being phased out as time goes on due to its inexactness and violent
nature. When the death penalty is elicited, it is understood that justice has been formally carried
out as thoroughly as possible.
Monetary trepidations of this issue certainly play an incredibly large part in support of the
death penalty. Citizens of the United States pay $1 million to keep one criminal in prison for 50
years. On average, it will cost $1.2-3.6 million more or 3-10 times the cost for a life without
parole sentencing case than a similar death penalty case (ProCon.org). This is simply not fair and
Wegner 3
should be one of the main concerns for this topic considering money and space are severely
limited when it comes to the universe as whole. Theirs is room for a finite number of inmates in
any prison. They can be expanded to the point of running out of the very earth we live on.
However, there lies the problem; no one in their right mind would rather expand prisons to the
point of using land that could be put towards building more schools, hospitals, parks, and other
facilities and businesses that actively better our country and world. While inmates do spend a
number of years on death row, an average of 11 years and 2 months, it will always be far less
time than a prison sentence for a crime that would warrant a spot in that part of any prison(Death
Penalty Arg.).
What better way is there to deter someone from committing a crime by offering the most
complete punishment imaginable? The innate human fear of death can work wonders when it
comes to making decisions and with the threat of death as a punishment, one would be logically
forced to weigh the outcomes of a choice heavily. Studies conducted within the past decade show
that anywhere between three and eighteen lives are saved with each execution due to a steadfast
deterrence. A moratorium or suspension of the death penalty has also been linked to an increase
of 150 homicides in Illinois over the course of the year 2000 (FOX News). The only way to
ensure someone will not commit any more crimes is to eliminate them from the equation
altogether. Of course, the death penalty should not be brought to a point of where the punishment
is not indicative of the crime. When life imprisonment is requested, begged for over the death
penalty, the death penalty is proven to have undeniable clout (ProCon.org). Life without parole is
in simple terms a societal death at the least because the term life without parole states that an
inmate is sentenced to spend the rest of their life in prison with no chance to see the light of day
again. Life without parole is fitting alternative to going through with taking the life of a criminal
Wegner 4
but poses some problems such as the cost of keeping an inmate in prison for the rest of their life
as well as keeping someone that has been declared unworthy for society alive through the hard
work of taxpayers and the families and friends of those that have been affected so miserably.
Mistakes have the potential to be made in anything involving human judgment or human
labor however an issue involving the well-being of another human require much more accuracy
and precision. Capital cases that involve the death penalty are among the top tier of instances
where flawless decision making is of the utmost desire and importance. Since the reinstatement
of the death penalty in 1976 after a four year suspension, there has not been one case resulting in
death that has been indisputably proven to be a mistake (ProCon.org). New evidence always the
possibility of coming to light but that may warrant a new trial but exoneration is nowhere near a
guarantee. The argument of taking innocent lives is always the main proponent of those opposed
to the death penalty but the justice system vehemently works to get those off of death row that do
not belong there with an extensive appeal system to ensure the correct outcome is reached in the
end.
Wegner 5
Works Cited
"Death Penalty Arguments & Resources." Death Penalty Arguments & Resources. N.p., 25 June 2003.
Web. 08 Nov. 2012.
"Death Penalty and Human Rights Standards." Amnesty International. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2012
Dieter, Richard C. "The Death Penalty and Human Rights: U.S. Death Penalty and International Law."
(n.d.): n. pag. Rpt. in Oxford Round Table. N.p.: Death Penalty Information Center, n.d. Print.
"Studies: Death Penalty Discourages Crime | Fox News." Online Posting. Fox News. FOX News Network,
11 June 2007. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.
"Top 10 Pros and Cons - Death Penalty - ProCon.org." Top 10 Pros and Cons - Death Penalty - ProCon.org.
N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.