Death Penalty: For or Against?

Essay by ljsierraCollege, UndergraduateA-, October 2006

download word file, 4 pages 5.0

Conciliatory Argument

When speaking about the death penalty we have to come to terms on the actual meaning of the word. Using words like, penalty, federal, counsel, number, representation, courts, defense, defendants, recommendation, defender, lawyers, authorized, punishable, or criminal charges as well as many others that could be included in this list.

What warrants the use of the death penalty? Does the crime itself come into play? Does the age, race, creed, sex of the individual make a difference of who should or should not be sentenced to receive the death penalty in our court of law?

Using the source from the Holy Bible, International Version, Exodus 21:24-25.

"But if there serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise." This argument, if one was to put GOD as our supreme last word on the subject would denote finality.

God said it, Believe it, It is done. No debate. A second scripture which shows that the word of only one witness is not sufficient, but requires at least two or more. "Deuteronomy 17:6 "On testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness."

If we were to take a case in the Middle Ages, justice was swift and sure. However, other punishments included fines, public humiliation and imprisonment for all crimes saving the death penalty for murder.

In today's world, Federal Law, to include the FBI, CIA and other such agencies, it is stated that the death penalty is to be enforced on convicted criminals for: crimes against the government such as treason, deserting from the Armed Forces during War time,