Death Penalty

* By definition “Death Penalty” is regarded as the execution of a convicted criminal by the state as punishment for crimes that are usually violent and hurtful to people (Capital Crimes – “concerning the head”).

*The “pros” of the Death Penalty:

1.       It is the ultimate warning

2.       It acts as a deterrent

3.       It keeps jails from being overpopulated

4.       It keeps citizens safe

5.       It acts as “retribution” to the victim

*The flaws (“cons”) of the Death Penalty:

1.       Money

2.       Injustice (Social Division/Bias/Discrimination)

3.       The reaction of the Public

4.       “We are the state. When the “state” kills, we are participants.”

5.       It doesn’t actually stop people from doing crimes

6.       It teaches the condemned nothing

7.       It ruins the chance for reformation

8.       Unjust Trial

* Injustice and Biased Trials – Death Penalty crumbles the chance of an accused to prove himself innocent. Also, most of the time the poor are put on to trial with much bias and discrimination when they are put up against someone with “power” (Corrupted Judiciary System).

*People who were falsely convicted and put in to the Death Row (but were able to prove their innocence):

1.       Rolando Cruz (Convicted: 1985, Released: 1995)

2.       Troy Lee Jones (C: 1982, R: 1996)

3.       Peter Limone (C: 1968, R: 2001)

4.       Debra Milke (C: 1990, R: 2015)

5.       Anthony Clinton (C: 1985, R: 2015)

*It goes against our mission to “Protect life from womb to tomb”.

* It as an offense against life because as children of God we are called to love, forgive, and guide our neighbours. Death Penalty goes against that. It hinders a person from actually realizing his wrongs and becoming a better person. It doesn’t give that person a chance to change and it doesn’t really give closure to the victim and that victim’s relatives. And actually, Death Penalty doesn’t end the crimes, it solidifies them and makes the “state” commit more crimes.