Say Goodbye to the Death Penalty

One of my classmates, Don, has written about how the death penalty in Texas has declined over the past few years on his blog, Gone to Texas [Government]. Don supports the idea of Texas doing away with the death penalty for reasons including lack of justice, inaccurate convictions, and life in prison without parole being an acceptable option for these individuals.

Don, I agree with you 100% on your notion to end the death penalty in the state of Texas. Even though I have a tendency to follow traditional values and social conservatism ideology, I believe that changes are in order for our state's future. There are so many different reasons as to why a life-sentence without parole serves as the better option with these cases.

As you mentioned, the death penalty puts lives at risk. We live in a country in which there is an imperfect justice system. Innocent individuals do receive false convictions, there is no doubt about it. Since judges, prosecutors, and jurors all run the risk of making the incorrect decision regarding an individual charged with a serious crime, why should we give them the ultimatum of death?

Furthermore, there are plenty of other reasons as to why the death penalty should be abolished. Research and statistics show that individuals who murder whites end up receiving the death penalty more often than individuals who murder African-Americans. The Death penalty costs us a large amount of tax money. Usually, those receiving the death penalty are of the minority class, and have poor defense attorneys to begin with. Also, capital punishment under the death penalty does not serve the community well by deterring these serious crimes.

I could go on and on about the negatives associated with the death penalty. However, I will conclude by saying that even though the death penalty may seem like the most just way to many, I think there is a better option for us. Instead of giving these criminals a "quick and easy way out", I think a life sentence without parole serves to punish them appropriately. Instead of the death penalty, let these murders reflect on their actions for the rest of their lives behind bars.