Human rights argument
Murderers forfeit their human rights when they take other peoples lives.
The punishment should fit the crime. If the punishment is too light it cheapens our rights to life.
Deterrence argument
It is common sense to say that killing murderers will deter others. It is hard to prove the effect because you are measuring something not happening.
A killer who has been executed can never do it again.
America executes people to show that murder is wrong.
Execution of the innocent argument
- There are no definite cases of innocent people having been executed since executions started again in the USA in 1977.
- The very small chance of a executing the wrong person is balanced by the benefits to society of deterring murderers.
Death penalty debate
