Topic: We should abolish capital punishment

Argument: A basic principle of punishment is that it should be proportional to the crime, and therefore capital punishment is the only legitimate response to a crime such as first degree murder.

Argument: A state that outlaws murder cannot then turn around and murder prisoners in the name of the law. It is perverse and unjust.

Argument: Abolishing capital punishment is impossible. It is mostly used today by dictatorial countries and religious monarchies, and they don't obey world norms and suggested human rights

Argument: Abolishing capital punishment means the victims' families will pay their taxes to support offenders who ruined their and their loved ones' lives. There is nothing merciful or humane in this; it is a sick, cruel joke.

Argument: As long as death penalty is kept, this confirms that our society is founded on violence, and that violence and brute force solve. This mindset perpetuates the circle of violence and doesn't allow to escape it.

Argument: As the only actor that can legitimately wield the use of force, the state has an reparative obligation to victims and their families to seek retribution against criminals, and this includes the use of capital punishment.

Argument: because there are a lot of innocent people who are in prison there is a good chance that you would kill a person and would later find out that they did not commit the crime

Argument: By taking away the right to life of his victim, a murderer forfeits his own right to life.

Argument: capital punishment acts as the ultimate deterrent - serious crime levels will drop due to the risk of paying the ultimate price.

Argument: capital punishment acts as the ultimate deterrent for the most heinous of crimes, and saves vast amounts of money that would be spent keeping such offenders in jail for ever more.

Argument: capital punishment allows for equal justice type punishment and a means for the victim's family members to have some type of closure to such a horrible episode in their lives.

Argument: Capital punishment allows for more judicial discretion by providing more possible punishments to choose from.

Argument: capital punishment allows for victims' families to get justice equal to the crime committed (usually murder).

Argument: capital punishment breaks the human rights of the individuals being punished.

Argument: capital punishment can be a deterrent if criminals know this is the ultimate punishment

Argument: Capital punishment can be replaced by more ethical but equally punishing alternatives, like life without parole.

Argument: capital punishment can influence better behavior

Argument: capital punishment can often cause great pain when being implemented and does not deter violent crime which is often committed in the throes of rage not to mention the injustice to the wrongly convicted.

Argument: capital punishment can potentially lead to the death of innocent men. there are cases where there is strong doubt that the person executed actually carried out the crime.

Argument: Capital punishment can provide more catharsis for victims than life in prison.