Capital Punishment

This brings me to thesis two. The most compelling arguments against capital punishment can be made
on the basis of its actual administration in our society. I will list five of the usual points.

1.The possibility of error. Sometimes a person might be put to death who is innocent.

2. Unfair administration. Capital punishment is inflicted disproportionately on the poor and minorities.

3. Weakness of the argument from deterrence. The claim that the threat of capital punishment
reduces violent crime is inconclusive, certainly not proven, extremely difficult to disprove, and
morally suspect if any case.

4. The length of stay on death row. If there were ever any validity to the deterrence argument, it is
negated by the endless appeals, delays, technicalities, and retrials that keep persons condemned to
death waiting for execution for years on end. One of the strongest arguments right now against
capital punishment is that we are too incompetent to carry it out. That inco...