Death Penalty | Teen Ink

Death Penalty MAG

By Anonymous

     Constant debates rage over whether the death penalty is an accurate illustration of American culture, and if it’s even constitutional. One argument is that the justice system is hypocritical in how it portrays the death penalty. Another is that the death penalty is not morally right, and that morality is the foundation of our Constitution. Perhaps the most shocking argument is that the death penalty has negative repercussions on the American lifestyle.

The government constantly talks about how to make the world better and how to make America more civilized, but then it kills its people. The death penalty is a form of hypocrisy. One can infer that killing is wrong, yet the government’s solution to murder is to engage in its own slaughter. This side of capital punishment is barbaric.

The death penalty violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948). We treat prisoners like animals. Committing a violent crime does not make someone any less of a human being, and sadly, it seems a human trait to commit heinous crimes. Some believe it is necessary to execute certain prisoners to prevent them from repeating their crimes. This may be a valid argument, but there is always a risk that someone innocent will be executed. The death penalty will not prevent a person from repeating a crime he or she did not commit in the first place. On the contrary, one study found that the death penalty causes juries to acquit murderers due to the fear of making a mistake that would result in an innocent person being executed.

In addition, our legal system is prejudiced. In Southern states, eight percent of blacks convicted of murder receive the death penalty while only one percent of white murderers get capital punishment. Also, murderers are seven times more likely to get the death penalty for killing a white person than a black person. This strikes me as obvious prejudice. Senator Russ Feingold states, “The death penalty legitimizes an irreversible act of violence by the state and will inevitably claim innocent victims.”

Ruben Cantu is an example of an innocent person who was put to death. Cantu, 17 at the time of his alleged crime, with no previous convictions, was labeled a violent thief, gang member, and ruthless murderer. He was charged with third-degree murder. Soon after his conviction, Cantu wrote a letter to the residents of San Antonio stating, “My name is Ruben M. Cantu and I am only 18 years old. I got to the ninth grade and I have been framed in a capital murder case.” Cantu was executed at age 26, still proclaiming his innocence. Twelve years later, the sole witness who testified against him recanted, saying, “I’m sure the person who shot me was not Cantu. Being an illegal immigrant at the time, I felt pressured by the police to identify the boy as the killer.” He later said, “[Cantu] was innocent. It was a case of an innocent person being killed.” Cantu’s co-defendant, Juan Garza, has signed a sworn affirmation saying he allowed his friend to be falsely accused, and that Cantu was not even with him the night of the killing.

From the hypocrisy of the American judicial system to the sorrowful execution of innocent people, the death penalty is immoral and violates the human right to life. Capital punishment has stolen lives and needs to be stopped. One day, the American government will realize that the death penalty is unethical.



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This article has 52 comments.


on Apr. 25 2010 at 6:58 pm
Mekalynrose GOLD, Ventura, California
13 articles 24 photos 6 comments
Well, if you think about it, if you were just to kill someone whose done something wrong then they won't have the time to feel the pain of their actions.  It's almost saving them from the guilt if you take their life away.  Besides, killing someone who killed someone else is like starting a neverending chain of murders.  Is that the example we want to show the world and new generations?  If someone did something bad enough to deserve the death penalty, maybe they should be treated with counseling or something.  There are other solutions.

MaeFlower said...
on Apr. 10 2010 at 8:34 pm
MaeFlower, Aurora, Colorado
0 articles 0 photos 27 comments
I get where you're coming from, because Jesus did let that woman go.  But he can see the HEART, we can only see the appearence. 

on Feb. 9 2010 at 11:09 pm
drhorriblylate BRONZE, Stanwood, Washington
3 articles 0 photos 18 comments
"An eye for an eye leaves the whole world bind" -Mahatma Ghandi

on Feb. 9 2010 at 11:06 pm
drhorriblylate BRONZE, Stanwood, Washington
3 articles 0 photos 18 comments
It's hypocritical because it punishes murder with murder. I have no idea why you think an offender would only be in jail for two years, it would more likely be a life sentence. America is the only first world western country to still allow the death penalty, it doesn't seem like the European countries are any worse off.

sly07 said...
on Jan. 5 2010 at 8:19 am
i think that death penalty should be totally abolished. because it's discriminating and against the christian doctrine. if a criminal committed murder, let him not be killed by his mistakes! but rather let him learn from his mistakes. if Jesus is there would Jesus pull the switch? i think Jesus would forgive him for what he has done. as Jesus said "whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do it to me". death penalty can't solve to stop heinous crimes. an eye for an eye makes the world blind.

on Dec. 30 2009 at 1:02 pm
krhinesly BRONZE, Southaven, Mississippi
2 articles 3 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
I'm pretty but I'm not beautiful. I'm good but I'm not angel. I sin but I'm not the devil. -Marilyn Monroe

why should it be stopped?! when there are crazy people in the world, possibly living near YOU, going around & raping, killing, abusing, ect. others! the death penalty should be harder enforced! my only reason thinking you don't like it, HAS to be because you have a family member on trial for death penalty. i mean it's LOGIC that we should have death penalty.

on Dec. 30 2009 at 12:59 pm
krhinesly BRONZE, Southaven, Mississippi
2 articles 3 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
I'm pretty but I'm not beautiful. I'm good but I'm not angel. I sin but I'm not the devil. -Marilyn Monroe

wow. okay, so you're saying that death penalty is being hypocrite by killing someone who killed or brutally hurt another? that's hypocritical? so what, you just want that physco killer to be put in jail for 2 years or so, then be let back on the streets? are you insnae?! the death penalty is the best thing we have! look at other countries whom don't have the freedom we have, & they are the ones with the most problems. i'm just saying, the death penalty should be enforced MORE than it already is. maybe then we can be "civil".

on Dec. 8 2009 at 10:53 am
write4life GOLD, Macon, Georgia
12 articles 0 photos 45 comments
I don't think it matters which race has a higher crime rate. A murderer is a murderer, regardless of the color of their skin, religion, family background, disability, sex , or other typically differentiating factor. Every murderer should receive the same cruel treatment that he or she inflicted upon their victim.

wooo69 said...
on Nov. 16 2009 at 5:30 pm
The "race card" statistic was proportionate to the number of whites and blacks being convicted of murder, your counterpoint is invalid. People given life penalties can also be denied parole or probation in their sentencing depending on the judges ruling.

Zaner_Black said...
on Sep. 21 2009 at 2:18 pm
Your afraid of innocent people getting killed due to the courts, but murders and rapeists are given capital punishment for a reason. people given life penelties can still be up for probation in 50-more years. Would you like a killer living in your neighborhood with your future children. And if you want to play the race card then you also have to look at how many more blacks are convicted of crimes compared to whites, so of course their numbers are higher. Is it unethical....yes. Is it used for a good reason.....yes. for me Capitol Punishment is a 100% yes

on Sep. 15 2009 at 6:23 am
sheeroxs BRONZE, Ny, New York
3 articles 90 photos 10 comments
Hear Hear!

on Aug. 27 2008 at 8:21 pm
I totally agree with you. I am 100% against the death penalty and I think it should be stopped.