The Death Penalty
             The death penalty has always been, and continues to be, a very controversial issue. While opponents of capital punishment are quick to point out that the United States remains to be one of the few Western countries that continue to support the death penalty, American citizens are most likely to encounter crime than the citizens of other countries (Brownlee 31). The majority of the U.S. population is for the death penalty, although there are several groups trying to abolish capital punishment. Some people are for the death penalty only under the right circumstances. There are several reasons given to support each group in their decisions: why they are for the death penalty, against the death penalty, or for the death penalty only under certain circumstances.
             The main reason given to explain why the death penalty should be abolished is because it is the ultimate denial of human rights. "It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice" (Amnesty 1). It violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Another reason the death penalty should be abolished is the simple fact that the "system" often fails to apply the death penalty fairly. "The death penalty is discriminatory and is often used disproportionately against the poor, minorities, and members of racial, ethic, and religious communities" (1). Not to mention, the death penalty is an irreversible act of violence by the state and always risk executing the innocent (1).
             Another very important reason given to explain why the death penalty should be abolished is that it can be used as a tool of political repression. "The death penalty is an effective way to forever silence political opponents or to eliminate politically troublesome individuals" (Amnesty 2). In most such cases the victims are sentenced to death after unfair trial...