Thesis statement: Though some countries still have capital punishment, like China, and some states of US still have capital punishment, I strongly claim that capital punishment should be abolished for the three following reasons.
1. The history of capital punishment.
A. Execution of criminals and political opponents has been used by nearly all societies—both to punish crime and to suppress political dissent. At early, In different places or countries, the capital punishment was easily done to people.Example: In 1700s Britain there were 222 crimes which were punishable by death, including crimes such as cutting down a tree or stealing an animal.
B. Movements towards humane executionIn early New England, public executions were a very solemn and sorrowful occasion, sometimes attended by large crowds, who also listened to a Gospel message and remarks by local preachers and politicians.
C. AbolitionismIn the United States, Michigan was the first state to ban the death penalty, on May 18, 1846. The death penalty was declared unconstitutional between 1972-1976 based on the Furman v. Georgia case, but the 1976 Gregg v. Georgia case once again permitted the death penalty under certain circumstances.
2. Controversy and debate
Capital punishment is often the subject of controversy. Opponents of the death penalty argue that it has led to the execution of innocent people, that life imprisonment is an effective and less expensive substitute, that it discriminates against minorities and the poor, and that it violates the criminal's right to life.Wrongful execution is a miscarriage of justice occurring when an innocent person is put to death by capital punishment. Many people have been proclaimed innocent victims of the death penalty. Some have claimed that as many as 39 executions have been carried out in the U.S. in face of compelling evidence of innocence or serious doubt about guilt. Newly-available DNA evidence has allowed the exoneration of more than 15 death row inmates since 1992 in the U.S., but DNA evidence is only available in a fraction of capital cases.
Reasons for people who think that capital punishment should be banned:
1. when we did the capital punishment, if there is mistake in judicial process, we can't fix it.
A. DNA evidence
B. example:"A man, whose name is Colin Campbell Ross, convicted and executed for the rape and murder of a 12 year old girl 86 years ago has been officially pardoned today. He was 28 years old and today is an innocent man. This is sadly a shining example of why the death penalty must be abolished. There are no do-over in death. Once a mistake has been made there is no going back."
2. humanism, everyone has the right to live.
A.humanist said:"Capital punishment, which is not used in Europe, is generally opposed by humanists because they think premeditated killing is wrong, even when carried out by the state, and because of the possibility of error and an irrevocable failure of justice. Treating criminals fairly also helps to ensure that innocent suspects are treated fairly."B. example: Capital punishment does not seem to deter murder - the US, which is one of the few democracies to retain capital punishment, has one of the highest murder rates in the world, at around 1 per 10,000 of the population (in Britain it is 1 per 100,000). Numbers of murders do not rise when capital punishment is abolished. US states with the death penalty have 50% more murders than those without.
3. Religious views
A. ChristianityAlthough some interpret that Jesus' teachings condemn the death penalty in The Gospel of Luke and The Gospel of Matthew regarding Turning the other cheek, and John 8:7 in which Jesus intervenes in the stoning of an adulterous, rebuking the mob with the phrase "may he who is without sin cast the first stone", others consider Romans 13:3-4 to support it. Also, Leviticus 20:2-27 has a whole list of situations in which execution is supported.
B. Buddhism
There is disagreement among Buddhists as to whether or not Buddhism forbids the death penalty. The first of the Five Precepts (Panca-sila) is to abstain from destruction of life. Chapter 10 of the Dhammapada states:
Everyone fears punishment; everyone fears death, just as you do. Therefore do not kill or cause to kill. Everyone fears punishment; everyone loves life, as you do. Therefore do not kill or cause to kill.
C. JudaismThe official teachings of Judaism approve the death penalty in principle but the standard of proof required for application of death penalty is extremely stringent, and in practice, it has been abolished by various Talmudic decisions, making the situations in which a death sentence could be passed effectively impossible and hypothetical.
Conclusion:
According to my three reasons: can't repair judicial mistakes, humanism and religion. The capital punishment should be abolished. People, who believe in what I said, should work on how to abolish capital punishment, and they should always persist that what they believe in.
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