The Death Penalty should be made illegal in the USA.

I thank my opponent for his refutes and for him ceasing to call people "anti-death penalty zealots". Now, as per the rules of this debate, my opponent and myself are not allowed to make any new arguments or any new refutes. So, my contentions will not be addressed by my opponent (unless it is a recap, of course) in round five, unless he is willing to break the rules. So, I will recap everything. Contention 1: Innocent executions. I pointed out how people have probably been executed in the past. While I cannot prove this, the probability is high, considering the amount of cases that were closed due to lack of funding and resources. Now, it seems that this fails when compared to alternatives. Contention 2: Cost. I showed how the cost is far too high for what it tries to archive - which is justice. I showed how other methods meet justice, too, but with a much lower cost. Due to character limitation, my opponent has not addressed my refutation. I extend the contention. Contention 3: Deterrent failure. I showed how punishments are, at least in part, for deterring the person from committing the crime again. Killing the person doesn't archive this. Yes, it stops them from killing again, but that's because they're dead, not deterred. Due to character limitation, my opponent has not addressed my refutation. I extend the contention. Contention 4: the 8th Amendment. I consented this contention to my opponent. Contention 5: Racial equality (or lack thereof). I showed how people who are not white have a higher chance of being executed for no discernible reason in the USA. While I admitted that this was not unique to capital punishment, the death penalty should not be acceptable as a punishment for it is racially bias, but at the same time, deals in absolutes. Due to character limitation, my opponent has not addressed my contention. I extend the contention. Contention 6: The right to live. I demonstrated simple logic in that: P1:The right to live is human right. P2: The death penalty kills people. C: Therefore, the death penalty violates human rights. While I offered my opponent to show how either P1 or P2 are incorrect, he has not addressed this. Due to character limitation, my opponent has not addressed my contention. I extend the contention. Now, my opponent stated that: "I will knock down the last two contentions, race and "right to life,"... in Round 5." I would remind my opponent that he is not allowed to address these contentions, as it would count as a new refute and violate the rules of the debate. Now, I will make my closing statements: I have shown how the death penalty fails at many things over alternatives, but why should this warrant for it to be illegal? To answer this, I will give examples: (DP = death penalty, LiP = life in prison) Does the DP bring justice? Yes. Does LiP bring justice? Yes. Can the DP kill innocent people? Yes. Can LiP kill innocent people? No. - Better Does the DP cost more than LiP? Yes. Does LiP cost more over the DP? No. - Better Does the DP work as a deterrent? No. Does LiP work as a deterrent? Yes. - Better. Is the DP racially bias? Yes. Is LiP racially bias? Yes. Better. (Why? Because since the death penalty deals as an irreversible*, bias system, it is worse than a reversible, bias system.) Does the DP violate the right to live? Yes. Does LiP violate the right to live? No. Better. So, how does this chart constitute making the death penalty illegal? Because it is a weed - a weed that drains our money, it doesn't work as a deterrent, it violates human rights, it is worse suited to a racially bias system, and is irreversible*. And like any weed, if you remove it, the flowers will shine, so to speak. Making the death penalty illegal will open the door for more money, more tolerated human rights, systems that are better suited to racial equality, and systems that work better as a deterrent, and can be corrected. I would like to extend my thanks to my opponent, DavidMGold, the audience, and the voters for this interesting debate. I have refined my reasons as to why the death penalty should be made illegal. Until next time! Kind regards, J *irreversible once the punishment has been carried out.