Example research essay topic: Death Penalty Capital Punishment - 885 words

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1. Introduction 2. Body - Legal debate concerning death penalty - View of the society, pro and contra - Death penalty and religion 3. Conclusion Arguments Against Death Penalty One of the most principle questions of the whole legislation system of the recent days is whether death penalty is socially accepted practice, and should it not be abolished.

Capital punishment is an example of one of our governments behaviours worthy of patriotic criticism. In an examination of moral beliefs regarding capital punishment, the cruelty and pain endured during executions, the personal bias and unfairness in capital cases, the execution of youth and the execution of mentally ill and incompetent, it will be demonstrated that capital punishment is imposed in violation of the equal protection clause of the U. S. In the debate against this swelling enterprise of death, there are passionate, moral, faith-based, and opinion-based (rather than fact-based) ideals that are fundamental inspiration toward maintaining, reforming, or abolishing the system.

Avid supporters justify their cause with different religious scriptures, as well as common philosophy regarding justice. They hold the sanctity of human life higher in concern to the victim, rather than the criminal. They propose that the execution of a killer is the ultimate proof of the value society puts on the life of the killers victim. Over a century ago, John Stuart Mill made a concurring statement to British Parliament: He who violates that right in another forfeits it for himself, and that while no other crime that he can commit deprives him of his life, this shall (Mello).

Also, society is a main interest of supporters, as they feel that when crimes are reprehensible enough, the perpetrators should be sentenced to death; they have lost their right to live in society. Also of importance to proponents of the death penalty is the sanctity of human feelings. Proponents regard public retribution as important because it shows a collective self-expression of society's revulsion about the heinousness of the crime that was committed, (Schabas). Revenge, akin to public retribution, is not just a judgment about what is best for society, but more importantly what is best for the family members and other close survivors closure. To many, the first feeling is to make the wrong righted, and since the victims life cannot be restored, the next best thing is to take vengeance upon the perpetrator.

Victims often look forward to the act of execution, to have this satisfaction. Prevalent morality in opposition perceives the use of the death penalty as furthering a cycle of violence, doing nothing better than murder murderers. Also, abolitionists suggest that it teaches society that violence is the way to solve conflicts. They argue that revenge is a personal emotion not to be involved in the judicial process at all, and that the death penalty is merely a substitution for this personal vengeance. Abolitionists do not disregard the victims, as some victims are abolitionists (Loney). Today, nearly every large religious body in the United States has a strong statement condemning the death penalty.

Essentially, faith-based opponents of the death penalty believe that it is not their part in life to seek vengeance, moreover, that only a higher power could make judgment on such situations. Such opponents argue that the federal and state government should never have the right to say who lives or dies. One such religion in opposition to the death penalty is Buddhism. It has some of the most clear-cut convictions against capital punishment. Within it, there are ten fundamental precepts, and the first of which is I am reverential and mindful of all life. I am not violent.

I do not kill, (Berg). That very well sums up their stance. One of the other precepts says I keep my mind calm and at peace. I do not indulge in anger.

Another says, I am humble. I do not praise myself or judge others, (Berg). Another religion of the world, Islam, seems to call for the death penalty, especially because of portrayal in popular media. Its hard to believe that this may not be the case, since the only four countries on Earth other than the United States that execute children are Islamic countries. However, its simply not true that Islamic teaching supports the death penalty. The word Muslim actually means one who practices peace.

One of the root words of Islam is salaam peace. I think that the death penalty is the ultimate denial f human rights. It violates the right t life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration f Human Rights. It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment. The human life is the most valuable resource on this planet. I ask why we must continue the chain of hate with legalized murder.

We must accept the fact that there are people on this earth that live amongst us that do not value their own lives. It is the governments job to protect us from cold blooded murders, but no one said anything about having to kill them. Bibliography: Loney, Randolph. A Dream of the Tattered Man: Stories from Georgias Death Row. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co. , 2001. Mello, Michael.

Dead Wrong. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1999. Schabas, William A. The Abolition of the Death Penalty in International Law. Cambridge, UK: Grotius Publications, 1993.

Research essay sample on Death Penalty Capital Punishment