Upon admitting guilt, the death penalty is reasonable.

I will first go over my opponents case which will also address mine id doing so. Good luck paramore102 :) First I will address my opponents copied "quote". MY OPPONENT: "Some people say that penalty is legalized murder because it is like "an eye for an eye". The difference between punishment and the crime is that one is legalized and the other is not" I would like to request an accurate description from my opponents view point of how she feels crime and punishment are the same with a different name. The author of this quote seems to mix an eye for an eye with justice. Though at first glance the two principles would seem the same, in reality, they are quite different. An eye for an eye, is more indirect ruthless revenge to try an intentionally harm that person as much as possible. An example of this would be someone who has had a friend injured in a gang fight. He/she might go after that gang member who has inflicted injury on his friend, by not only attacking the person, but by also attacking that persons loved ones in order to make the victim feel what he/she has felt. Justice, on the other hand, is more than mildly different. Justice is to seek out that perfect fairness could is sought out. Its to clarify and uphold what is right and discipline what is wrong. Justice, isn't about seeking emotional revenge, (for lack of a better word on summoning up an eye for an eye), but it goes more on punishing the wrong for their actions. Without punishment, there would result a non-defended public, and lead to a decrease in public safety. Obviously not good on any account. MY OPPONENT: "People are more brutalized by what they see on T.V. daily. People are not brutalized by punishments they are brutalized by our failure to serious punish, the brutal acts." Ignoring the fact that the grammar in this statement was innacurate, I am led to believe that the author of this statement wants us to think that the media is what has caused all the criminals actions. I find this to be a lack of responsibility. "answerable or accountable, as for something within one's power, control, or management (often fol. by to or for): He is responsible to the president for his decisions" http://dictionary.reference.com... By blaming ones problems on the media, we create what I call 'excuses'. Sometimes it is easier to find excuses, then to accept responsibility. The leading point, is that everyone has the ability to make a choice. Whether not that choice is a good one or a bad one, there is always going to be a consequence. By blaming ones choices on the media, the said person does not claim responsibility. Some of Americas greatest people, have grown up in crappy environments. They chose to go against the way they were brought up and make their own stands. Their own decisions. So saying that the media has caused criminals to do there actions, is nothing more than an excuse and a scapegoat. MY OPPONENT: "...however what my opponent doesn't take in to consideration is that millions are waiting for the day that they hear it's their turn to walk their death. In my mind does my opponent not take in to consideration the family of the prisoner?" Though I don't really quite see how this ties into what your were quoting me off of, I will address the part about the family. There's always going to be heartbreak when a family member goes to prison. But life is full of heart break, and sometimes people need to realize that life just sucks. I don't see how sentencing someone to their death is any worse on the family, then having that family member rot in jail there whole life. Thus, I believe this argument is null. MY OPPONENT: "I do not believe that they are just taking space. If we were to create task with in the prison its self this would be a great way for them to make money if they have a family to support." LOL, you can't support a family in when your in prison. HAHAHA your so cute. But just for fun, what type of work could a life sentenced prisoner actually do inside the prison? They are limited in the actual things they are privileged to do. They are not even privileged to make drivers licences like those with short terms can, because they can be used to make weapons. Most of them spend there time in solitary confinement there whole life. MY OPPONENT: "I believe that a person can be changed if shown how. The problem with that is that no one is willing to show them how to change for the good of their family as well as for America. If America's own pledge of allegiance was founded of justice. "...and justice for all..." then why cant they be given a chance to change the damage that they have created the pain that they have inside is nothing more then anger that builds with in them." Im sorry, but murder and rape, aren't things you can just go to the government about and say "I am sorry. I've changed! Will you please forgive me?". Infringe once, your screwed, and that's the way it's always been played in america for life sentences. MY OPPONENT: "Using conservative rough projections, the Commission estimates the annual costs of the present (death penalty) system to be $137 million per year. The cost of the present system with reforms recommended by the Commission to ensure a fair process would be $232.7 million per year. The cost of a system in which the number of death-eligible crimes was significantly narrowed would be $130 million per year. The cost of a system which imposes a maximum penalty of lifetime incarceration instead of the death penalty would be $11.5 million per year. This was as of June of 2008" Although its obvious this was copied and pasted as well, I will address how this information is incorrect. The death penalty is one of the most cost efficient ways, and economically helpful ways to help reduce prison population and deal justice. Its not hard to put a bullet in someone's brain. Its the court cases that complicate things. The death penalty costs less money than life in prison. Yes, a Death Penalty sentence has a number of automatic appeals which are quite expensive. However, the anti-Death Penalty folks assume a life in prison sentence has no appeals at all, and that is just not the case. Inmates routinely file appeals for a Life In Prison sentence, they are just not automatic as in a Death Penalty sentence. MY OPPONENT: "My opponent also claims that state penitentiaries are overcrowded. Why not take the money that is being used on the death penalty to create new penitentiaries?" Because its the court cases that complicate the cash. The court money does not in anyway belong to the penitentuary. Also it is counter productive in terms of justice, and again, the un-argued economics. MY OPPONENT: "Who has the authority to judge whether a person should live or die?" Obviously, we do :) And maybe the prisoners who committed the murder in the first place should've asked themselves that question before they murdered/raped. Thanks for the quick response paramore 102. Good luck, again. Sources: [ www.amnestyusa.org ] [ www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=108 ] [ www.ncadp.org/index.cfm?content=24 ] [ abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=7075017 ] [ http://dictionary.reference.com... ]