The United states should abolish the death penalty

So I will go onto attack my opponents arguments. His first argument says that the death penalty made murder rates higher, but it says that murder rates were higher in 2006 then 2015. This evidence actually shows a drop in murder rates so it is actually arguing for the con side. Onto his next argument that states it hurts the American economy. His argument only states evidence that is from Oregon no other states. That means he is only giving evidence that the death penalty hurts one state, but never shows evidence it hurts others, so that argument is actually very flawed. Another thing he stated was that Human life is a right. This is a correct statement, but a person on death row has most likely taken away another persons right to life. They have taken another persons right to live, so why shouldn't theirs be taken away. Also he wasn't able to attack my contentions on constitutionality and deterrence so these arguments still stand. So now I will begin to rebuild my own case. So to my 1st contention which is retribution. "We have the responsibility to punish those who deserve it, but only to the degree they deserve it. Retributivists do not justify the death penalty by the general deterrence or safety it brings us. And we reject over-punishing no less than under-punishing. How obscene that aggravated murderers who behave well inside prison watch movies and play softball. Regardless of future benefits, we justify punishment because it's deserved. Let the punishment fit the crime" Opponents [of the death penalty] wrongly equate retribution and revenge, because they both would inflict pain and suffering on those who have inflicted pain and suffering on us. Whereas revenge knows no bounds, retribution must be limited, proportional and appropriately directed: The retributive punishment fits the crime" We should only execute those who most deserve it. And not randomly. Refine our death penalty statutes and review the sentences of everyone on death row. Release into general population those who don't really deserve to die. The rest we should execute " worst first. " Robert Blecker, JD Professor of Law at New York Law School "Q&A: Death Penalty Proponent Robert Blecker," dallasnews. com Apr. 2014 Onto my second contention which is irrevocable mistakes. "Those in support of abolishing the death penalty point to the possibility of an innocent person being executed. .. The innocent can take solace in knowing that a unanimous jury of 12 citizens must render the death verdict after an exhaustive trial where the accused murderer is represented by two highly competent attorneys and overseen by an independent judge who ensures a fair trial. Voters understand that the criminals on death row have been convicted of the most heinous crimes. Voters also realize that those left behind, grieving families throughout California and their loved ones, don"t deserve anything less than justice. Justice is a reformed, not eliminated death penalty. " Michele Hanisee, JD Deputy District Attorney for the County of Los Angeles and President of the Association of District Attorneys "Justice Requires a Swift Death Penalty in California," marinscope. com Sep. 27, 2016 Onto my last contention which is cost of death vs. life in prison. "Much of the cost, indeed, much of the criticism of the death penalty, is attributed to 'decades of appeals. ' It is unsurprising that the loudest complaints about death penalty delays come from death penalty opponents who have created them. .. Claimed 'cost studies,' often performed by or at the behest of death penalty opponents, are frequently so incomplete as to be false and misleading. For example, they don't take into account the increase in the cost of life without parole cases if there were no death penalty. Criminal defendants who are facing the death penalty " which today must be pleaded by prosecutors up front " often want to make a deal by pleading guilty to first degree murder in exchange for a sentencing recommendation of life without parole. The existence of the death penalty as a possible sentence leads to guilty pleas that save the money spent on trials and limit the opportunity for appeals. " Robert B. Evnen, JD Attorney and Co-founder of Nebraskans for the Death Penalty "Local View: Thoughts about the Death Penalty: Correcting the Record," journalstar.