Although the legality of capital punishment has been justified countless times by countless courts, and is supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans, it is morally wrong. Capital punishment which dates back to the beginning of time breaks the fifth commandment, one of the oldest rules governing the human race. "To kill is to rob man of the great privilege reserved for God alone. Only God has the right to judge when the physical must end." (Moses)

Capital punishment is not only an unacceptable punishment because it is immoral, it is also unconstitutional. Capital punishment was found to violate the Eighth Amendment's "prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment," and the Fourteenth Amendment's "guarantees of equal protection of the laws and due process" (Litardo 1). In 1972, the Furman vs. Georgia trial caused the Supreme Court to cancel hundreds of scheduled executions and to declare the de

Our modern judicial system uses the death penalty to legalize murder. Many people are wrongly accused of murder, convicted, and sentenced to death. David Leibowitz, in his essay "Death Penalty Showdown" argues that "execution represents a proportional, measured response to mankind's most barbarous act." (Leibowitz 316) It is plainly stated in almost every religion that the act of taking another mans life is the ultimate sin. What gives the court the right to legally commit the same sin in pursuit of justice? Mankind is not responsible enough to make these decisions?

Capital punishment also challenges the Fourteenth Amendment. Once again, the Fourteenth Amendment in the United States Constitution promised equal protection of the laws and due process to all. However, the death penalty was found to be discriminatory based on the color of one's skin (Bedau 6). Therefore, the death penalty certainly violates the Fourteenth Amendment.

With the reforms that Leibowitz favors in place, such as shorting the appeal process and eliminating the defense of insanity what will prevent and innocent man from being put to death? Death penalty appeals are lengthy and take decades to ensure the accused is not innocent. With the recent advances in criminology and

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Approximate Word count = 849
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)