Capital Punishment: Non-religious Reasons Against

Question 1

What are six points?

Answer 1

It does not act as deterrent
There have been cases of innocent people wrongfully executed
It is a denial of Human Rights
Execution can be seen as an easier sentence than imprisonment
It is discriminatory
Human life is sacred

Question 2

It does not act as deterrent

Answer 2

A UN survey in 1988 and 1996 found no evidence that capital punishment acts as a deterrent
Capital crimes do not seem to drop in countries with the death penalty

Question 3

There have been cases of innocent people wrongfully executed

Answer 3

Since 1973, 150 US prisoners sent to death row have later been exonerated
Using the death penalty prevents mistakes being corrected

Question 4

It is a denial of Human Rights

Answer 4

The UN Declaration of Human Rights states that every human has the right to life, the right not to be tortured or to suffer
Capital punishment goes against these rights
Human Rights are universal and cannot be revoked

Question 5

Execution can be seen as an easier sentence than imprisonment

Answer 5

Life in prison is a greater deterrent to many criminals, which is why some try to commit suicide

Question 6

It is discriminatory

Answer 6

You are more likely to be sentenced to death if you are poor or belong to a racial, ethnic or religious minority because of discrimination in the justice system
Poor and marginalised groups have less access to the legal resources needed to defend themselves
In Louisiana, the odds of a death sentence were 97% higher for those whose victim was white than for those whose victim was black

Question 7

Human life is sacred

Answer 7

Human life should not be taken in any circumstances
No-one has the right to kill another person
Executing murders demonstrates that the society doesn’t regard the importance of human life and the society using the punishment is no better than the offender