Argumentative Essay

DEATH PENALTY

The death penalty is a very complex issue in today’s world. There are very strong opinions on both sides of the argument. In America, some states have the death penalty while others do not. Some believe that every state should have it, and others believe that none should. It is so controversial because both sides believe that they are right and because death is so permanent. If you make a mistake, once the death penalty is imposed, there is no taking it back. Here are some of the views held by people about the death penalty.

Some people believe strongly that the death penalty should be imposed on, at the very least, every murderer. Many believe that even lesser crimes warrant this punishment. They believe either that they should have happen to them what they did to another or that they do not deserve to live because of what they have done. Those who believe this often believe that there are many other crimes that warrant the death penalty as well. This is one point of view.

The opposite point of view is that no one should ever be killed by the state or government. They think that if it is wrong to kill then it is wrong to kill anyone and that imposing the death penalty on a murder is hypocritical. You say killing is wrong so now we must kill you for it. Others believe that every life is sacred and has value and that no one has the right to take a life, even that of a killer. Many feel very strongly about this. Others are afraid of wrongful convictions. It has happened in the past that a person was executed then later exonerated for the crime.

There are also those who have a middle ground opinion. They believe that the death penalty should be reserved for cases where the party is clearly guilty of the crime and the crime warrants death as punishment. They think only certain crimes with a thought out plan to kill in advance should be death penalty cases. This is to ensure that only the worst get punished this way.

All sides...