Topic: We should abolish capital punishment

Argument: the death penalty gives the victims of the worst crimes justice and takes away the option that they could be released to commit these crimes again

Argument: The death penalty goes against our most basic human right - the right to life

Argument: the death penalty has never been proven as a detterent to crime.

Argument: The death penalty is a form of revenge which continues the cycle of violence.

Argument: the death penalty is a racially biased punishment, and also ineffective in deterring crime

Argument: the death penalty is a violation of the human right to life

Argument: The death penalty is incompatible with human rights and human dignity

Argument: the death penalty is not an effective deterrent to crime

Argument: the death penalty is outdated and immoral - there is no justification for taking a person's life.

Argument: The death penalty leaves everyone involved in the criminal justice system with residual guilt and trauma over sending someone to their death.

Argument: The death penalty perpetuates the cycle of violence.

Argument: The death penalty scars the family and friends of the person subject to it.

Argument: the death penalty typically brings the opposite of what survivors of crime most need

Argument: the government shouldnt have the power to say who lives and who dies.

Argument: The methods of execution have gradually become more humane over the years making the death penalty quick, painless, and humane.

Argument: the modern death penalty is intended to be painless and effective and the process is much more humane than electrocution, firing squads, or hanging, which were common in the past

Argument: the most obvious reason to oppose is the danger that an innocent person is killed due to the fact that mistakes are made. witnesses can be wrong in what they saw and lawyers can make a hash of defending a case.

Argument: The nature and methods of execution used around the world only continue to perpetuate the cycle of violence

Argument: the old saying "an eye for an eye" exists for a reason. if a person commits a horrible act, than swift punishment is not only a good thing but deserved.

Argument: the punishment should be equal to the crime. it also might deter others from murder if they know they will lose their own life.

Argument: The purpose of punishment should be to rehabilitate people so that they can re-enter society as productive citizens, and capital punishment does nothing to serve this purpose.

Argument: there are better ways of punishing criminals nowadays and some can be rehabilitated.

Argument: there are crimes for which it is the only response

Argument: there are many instances of innocence being proved at a later date

Argument: there are some crimes so heinous, such as child rape and murder, that capital punishment is the only appropriate punishment for the crime as well as to act as a deterrent to others

Argument: there are too many historical cases where innocent people have been put to death.