Resolved: The Death Penalty should be abolished.

Morality:1. I've provided a whole contention of my case to support this notion, along with evidence from credible sources.2. Whereas my opponent has only used members of the site on which we are debating, I have drawn my support from sources with available credibility.3. I've provided model as to showing how it's immoral and leads to immoral actions.4. It is murder. Murder: "the crime of deliberately killing a person" [1]5. Mr. E-Man's comment is inherently invalid. I'll provide two examples of how it is incorrect.a. We can't take someones rights on the basis that they've taken anothers rights. For example, if someone steals your car, that does not give you liberty to steal someone else's car. Just the same, it doesn't transfer that liberty to another, as the death penalty attempts to justify.b. This concept of returning "what is due" is flawed. In fact, "The phrase “the phrase "an-eye-for-an-eye-for-an-eye-for-an-eye makes everybody blind” is commonly attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, and this idea applies to the American justice system." [2] While they try to achieve justice and morality by "repaying" the criminal, it has no moral effect, and is actually a net detriment to society.Innocence:1. This is only briefly mentioned by my opponent, but I willl address it nonetheless.2. Regardless of the number, any innocent captial punishment is immoral.3. This is not an uncommon consequence of the death penalty. "“The great majority of innocent people who are sentenced to death are never identified and freed," said Samuel Gross, lead author of the study and a University of Michigan Law School professor, in a statement." [3]4. Moreover, the same study exposed that over 4% (a conservative estimate) of those punished by the death penalty are innocent. [4]Deterrent:1. This point is empirically false, as shown in my previous contention.2. My opponent argues only with flawed logical, with no evidence to support it.3. On the contrary, I provided multiple cards of evidence to support my stance.4. No credible evidence supports the idea that capital punishment is a deterrent for crimes. [5] [6] [7]5. Empirical studies of various origin conclude that the death penalty is not a deterrent. [8] [9] [10]6. Moreover, life in prison is just as effective, if not more. [11]7. Because the death penalty destroys regard for life, life in prison both shows that the government wants to protect life of all facets and is thus a more effective deterrent. [12]God:1. While I am a Christian, God does not have an implication in the way that my opponent phrases it.2. What my opponent cites as "God's Word" is in the New Testament altered, to introduce the New dispensation.3. Regardless, this argument by opponent is under the premise that God exists, which is not the topic of the debate.Opponent's Sources:1. Her National Geographic source shows some shady implications of the death penalty. [13]a. Saudi Arabia utilized crucifixtion: this is obviously a very cruel, painful, and immoral method of ending an individual's life. A medieval form of execution shows how the death penalty degrades society. [14]b. China keeps its executions secret: one can only wonder why... perhaps inhumane punishment? A number *too* high to publicize?c. Only 21 countries carried out the death penalty in 2012: As there is 196 countries in the world currently [15], the death penalty is not vastly popular, and for a good reason. One can only conclude that the *majority* of countries/people are against capital punishment itself.Conclusion:I have provided multiple reasons as to why the death penalty should be abolished. Please note that I have only had 1 round of rebuttals and rebuilding of my case, whereas my opponent gets an extra round. (She posted her initial argument in the incorrect round.) Regardless, I have shown that the death penalty is not pragmatic or moral, and should thus be abolished.VOTE PRO!Sources:[1] http://www.merriam-webster.com...[2] http://theprincetontory.com...[3] http://www.huffingtonpost.com...[4] http://www.theguardian.com...[5] http://www.denverpost.com...[6] http://www.outsidethebeltway.com...[7] http://www.abc.net.au...[8] http://www.colorado.edu...[9] http://www.rochester.edu...[10] http://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu...[11] http://web.mnstate.edu...[12] http://paulsjusticepage.com...[13] http://news.nationalgeographic.com...[14] http://www.britannica.com...[15] http://www.infoplease.com...