Capital Punishment

Capital punishment is very controversial and there are many reasons why people oppose it including that it is very expense. I also believe that capital punishment, although costly, is absolutely necessary in protecting the citizens of this country and should not be put aside simply because of monetary reasons.

It is true that capital punishment is expensive, from trials to appeals to years behind bars; it takes a lot of money. Housing a person for several years is not cheap and allowing them access to many appeals and free lawyers costs taxpayers a fortune. However, what is a human life worth to you?

When you compare the cost of housing a person on death row to the cost of a human life, there is no comparison. If it costs us hundreds of thousands of dollars to save even one life, then it is worth it. In a study conducted by Emory University, they estimate that " every execution deters eighteen murders". (Douthat & Poe, 2005). Capital punishment is given to those who have committed the worst crime, murder. Because they have done this one, they could do it again. Putting a person to death for that crime protects society and makes the offender pay the ultimate life for the life they stole. The Emory University study is correct in stating, "the harms of capital punishment would have to be very great to justify its abolition, far greater than most critics have heretofore alleged."

So, yes, it is expensive to feel safe. Yes, it is expensive to protect people. Yes, it is expensive to keep the death penalty. But, frankly, I would pay any price to keep a murderer off the streets and away from my children, family, and friends.

Do not abolish the death penalty because of cost. Instead of eliminating the program, why don't we fix it instead? Maybe it is not necessary to keep a person on