Erica and Danielle's Opinion on the Death Penalty

The death penalty is atrocious and cruel. It violates many human rights and most of the time is completely inhumane. As stated above in our human rights post, there are many instances in which someone has been improperly administered a lethal injection or electrocution and the prisoner suffers the most painful of deaths. Often, there is not even a doctor on hand. Besides, the very idea of the death penalty is barbaric. Legalizing the death penalty has put the blood of thousands of murders on the hands of the government. It is surprising that the US is one of the few developed nations practicing the death penalty because, not only is it stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that everyone has the right to life, but it is stated in our own Constitution's Bill of Rights, Amendment Eight that "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." The death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment.  Killing murderers is just as bad as killing innocent people because all it serves to do is teach the public that killing is acceptable. Although it is a tired cliché, two wrongs really do not make a right!

Source: billofrights.org

Picture Source: http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists.jpg