The Death Penalty should be made illegal in the USA.

I would like to extend my thanks to my opponent, Waxwing, for this debate; it has been interesting and difficult to debate on. I will follow with my closing statements: There is little I can respond to, as per the rules laid out in round one, but: Contention 1: Ethics. All I can say is that this system of (raping them might not convince them - "x"ing them might not convince them) really works in either way, as might is the key word here - in another sense, this is another "neutral" argument. On the three points: "All three, I agree, are 'neutralizers'" Is what my opponent stated. So This does nothing to support either position - we are in agreement. Contention 2: Innocent executions. I will essentially re-cap and re-phrase my round three post: Innocent people die (whether it be gassed, electrocuted, injected with poison, or hanged) in America's justice system. No one innocent dies over alternatives. I do not accept that we should have this legal system wherein irreversible mistakes are made - even if, in theory, it is in a state of "no doubt". It might work on paper, but not in reality[1]. Contention 3: I consented to my opponent that this was another neutral argument. Contention 4: Cost. I will again re-cap and re-phrase my argument. "...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."[2] It costs far too much to endure when compared to alternatives. There is really no excuse for it - even with (theoretical and potential) reformations included[2]. I will now make my closing statements: First and foremost, I would offer a huge thank you to my opponent, Waxwing, for this debate! (I know I've said it before, but no harm in duplicating). I have enjoyed it immensely! As for closing my stance: I would simply like to put forward to the voters and my opponent a comparison: Does the death penalty (tDP) bring justice (still debatable, but, for the sake of argument)? Yes Does life in prison (LiP) bring justice? Yes Does tDP kill innocent people? Yes Does LiP bring kill innocent people? No - better Does tDP cost more over LiP? Yes Does LiP cost more over tDP? No - better When executed (i.e. carried out), can it be reversed (for tDP)? No When executed (i.e. carried out), can it be reversed (for LiP)? Yes - better These all culminate that life in prison is better than the death penalty. But wait, you might say, why should this make the death penalty illegal? The answer is: By making the death penalty illegal, you force better alternatives to be carried out that will ultimately do the same thing (bring justice), but will also reduce costs, hence increase in funding for more pressing issues, make reversible mistakes, instead of irreversible mistakes, and kill (100%) less innocent people. That is why: cut out the weeds and the flowers will shine! I thank the audience, the voters, my opponent, Waxwing, once again, and look forward to our next debate! Kind regards, J Source(s): [1]http://en.wikipedia.org... [2]http://www.deathpenalty.org...