Should the U.S. Abolish the Death Penalty?

• “Yes”

  

  “The American Public is Moving Away from the Death Penalty”

• “Objection”

  

  “Support Remains Strong in America”
  

  Response

Support Remains Strong in America

Joshua Marquis

District Attorney, Media Commentator

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What Amnesty International is not telling you is that polling done on capital punishment shows that consistently 65 to 85% of Americans support capital punishment in some cases since the mid-1970s. Support peaked in the 1980s, decreased slightly to about 65% in 2000, but remains about 70%. If the question is asked "Is there ANY crime that merits the death penalty" Americans say yes at a rate of 82%.

There is no question that death penalty cases are decreasing.

Because of decreasing rates of violent crime (including murder) due in no small part to tougher penalties, the number of cases appropriate for the death penalty have decreased.

Both juries and prosecutors are becoming more discriminating about the cases in which the death penalty is applied.

Response

Americans Support Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Amnesty International

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What Mr. Marquis conveniently leaves out here is the option of LWOP (life without the possibility of parole).  This sentence is now an option in most states, and when presented with this option the majority of Americans consistently support it over the death penalty.

Evidence

Link

Links to National Polls

Next Argument

"Yes" Amnesty

• The Death Penalty is a Denial of Human Rights
  7
• The Death Penalty Makes Too Many Mistakes
  9
• The Death Penalty Costs More
  6
• The American Public is Moving Away from the Death Penalty
  5

"No" Josh Marquis

• How Many Innocent Victims are Too Many?
  8
• The Idea that Many People on Death Row are Innocent is Nonsense
  3

"No" Criminal Justice Legal Foundation

• An Enforced Death Penalty Saves Lives Through Deterrence
  3

Most Objections

• How Many Innocent Victims are Too Many?
  8
• The Idea that Many People on Death Row are Innocent is Nonsense
  3
• The Death Penalty is a Denial of Human Rights
  7
• The American Public is Moving Away from the Death Penalty
  5
• The Death Penalty Makes Too Many Mistakes
  9
• The Death Penalty Costs More
  6
• An Enforced Death Penalty Saves Lives Through Deterrence
  3

Should We End Executions?

• Yes
• No

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