The United States is one of the few democratic nations that still carries out executions.
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About 4.1% of people on death row are estimated to be innocent. Additionally, 80% of the country’s top criminologists do not believe the death penalty acts as a deterrent to homicide. According to Michigan Law Review, the death penalty may in fact increase homicide rates due to the "brutalization" effect, wherein executions reduce respect for the value of human life on a societal level and lead to more murders.
These statistics are quite horrifying
Re #2: The death penalty is actually significantly more expensive than life in prison.
estimated, how can you prove they are tho?
1) The risk of executing an innocent person is too great;
2) The death penalty is significantly more expensive then life in prison
Honor requires us to respect our enemies and not kill them or torture them when they are defenseless.
Attack is only allowed against those who are a threat, not against those who are not.
And innocent people being given death penalty only adds to dishonor.
"Not kill them or torture them when they are defenseless."
You mean like what happened to their victim(s)? Right...
In the hunt for monsters, one must be careful not to become monster himself.
No one can use abolishing capital punishment as a political tactic anymore.
It is one less thing to worry about. If capital punishment is abolished, it removes any worries and reservations some may have.
Those who support it are not as adamant about it as those who are against it. Supporters typically just argue it is justified and not wrong for any moral reasons (they often don't have a clear way how to apply it consistently and fairly), while opponents of it want it gone right now. It will make one side happier.
Perhaps it isn't necessarily ideal but the death penalty is needed in our current American society. Don't try to compare us to Europe because the US is vastly different than any other nation on this earth. Many people suggest life in prison as an alternative but be real, when was the last time someone was given "life" in prison and actually served that sentence. How many times do rapists and murderers receive a life sentence but end up out on parole for "good behavior" just to repeat their same offense? It happens far more often than it ever should. If possibility of parole without pardon were to be abolished then sure, we could probably do away with the death penalty but as things stand, it's necessary for the safety of the innocent members of our society. And this isn't really a fact but a general rule of thumb, if a principle has successfully been in place for thousands of years, something about it must be working. Just saying.
Life in prison without the possibility of parole avoids this issue.
Replying to Savant
Yes, I think I alluded to that. It doesn't happen even a fraction as often as it is deserved, however. That's the real problem. The death penalty isn't the issue. The root of the problem is the laxity of our US Courts, statistically more liberal courts.
Replying to JenKiggans2026
Surely any judge or jury willing to give the death penalty would be willing to give life without possibility of parole though? If courts are lax, having the death penalty as an option doesn't change that.
Replying to Savant
You do realize that the DP is a unanimous decision? Life w/o parole doesn't always require a jury. Yes, your statement is true but the issue I mentioned still stands. There aren't enough that are willing to do so.
Replying to JenKiggans2026
But the topic is whether the US should abolish the death penalty. Even if your point is true, I'm not seeing how it leads to the conclusion that we ought not to abolish it. If anything, it would be even easier to get life without parole, and that would prevent criminals from being released and reoffending just as well as the death penalty.
If it's so bad to take even guilty life, we will need to abolish abortion, which takes innocent life.
We would also need to focus on protecting innocent lives, the victims of those who typically receive capital punishment.
It would also affect society. They will not have as much respect for life.
Agreed. I know some people will hate me for this but one innocent life lost to the death penalty once in a very long while is a fair trade off versus multiple innocent lives taken by a capital offender. Capital offense indeed deserves capital punishment
The future generations would think that we need to prioritize criminals over victims.
The future gens may also not see killing as evil as it is.
Removing capital punishment also removes another way to punish more harshly. Future gens may not understand that some crimes are worse than others.
Europe got rid and has some of the worst rapists and murderers going for a holiday before walking free (these psychopaths are capable of extreme violence and enjoy prison at times).
It also results in those types making prison a living hell for the half-decent prisoners they're locked up with who did more of a mistake in life than a planned pure evil.
Europe is literally one of safest areas in the world. Well, Europe and Japan. If we are talking of modern European countries, they are pretty much as safe as it gets.
Replying to SatanLucy
I think most French citizens would disagree with you there. Japan, yes but not most of Europe
Replying to JenKiggans2026
Which part would they disagree with?
Replying to JenKiggans2026
What people disagree with is irrelevant to what statistics say.
Replying to SatanLucy
Bro, what?! Statistics don't matter if they contradict the real world facts. Statistics say that a Tesla Model S Plaid is faster than a Porsche GT3 but take them to a track and we both know who wins. There are many more factors than just a paper spreadsheet
