AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY (CONS)

Death Penalty Fails to Rehabilitate

What would it accomplish to put someone on death row? The victim
is already dead-you cannot bring him back. When the opponents feel fear
of death will prevent one from committing murder, it is not true because
most murders are done on the heat of passion when a person cannot think
rationally. Therefore, how can one even have time to think of fear in the heat
of passion (Internet)?
Conviction of the Innocent Occurs
The states that have the death penalty should be free of murder,
but those states have the most murders, and the states that abolished the
death penalty has less. Conviction of the innocent does occur and death
makes a miscarriage of justice irrevocable. Two states Maine and Rhode
Island abolished the death penalty because of public shame and remorse
after they discovered they executed some innocent men.
Fear of Death Does not Reduce Crime.
The fear of the death penalty has never reduced crime. Through
most of history executions were public and brutal. Some criminals were even
crushed to death slowly under heavy weight. Crime was more common at
that time than it is now. Evidence shows execution does not act as a
deterrent to capital punishment.
I am against it, because death is something that is left to God to decide. In
the US many states have realized that it is not a deterrent to crime. I also
believe that people can change and to take away this chance is not right.
The Old Testament says "an eye for an eye" but Jesus teaches us to forgive
and to have mercy, but the death penalty leaves no room for forgiveness and
mercy. What happens when the mistake is discovered after a man has been
executed for a crime he did not commit? What do we say to his widow and
children? Do we erect an apologetic tombstone over his grave?
As a human rights advocate, Ive always been against the reimposition of
the death penalty. My current role as Secretary of Justice does not at all
change my position on the issue, De Lima said at a text message to

reporters. Death penalty is not the solution to criminality. What deters

criminality is faithful and diligent enforcement of laws and due
administration of the criminal justice system without fear or favour, she
said.

Point: THERE IS ALWAYS A POSIBILITY OF ERROR IN CONDEMNING APERSON

TO DEATH
The death penalty alone imposes irrevocable sentence, once an inmate is
executed, nothing can be done to make amends if a mistake have been
made. It is impossible to pardon a corpse. Amnesty International interviewed
inmates in the Philippines and they were surprised to find out that illegal
methods including planting of evidences, and the use of ill treatments and
torture to secure confessions from criminal suspects. In one case, involving
Eusebio Molijan, sentenced to death for multiple murder during an attempted
robbery in 1950 and executed by electrocution in 1958, there remains
concern, that he may have been falsely convicted. Eusebio Molijan was
convicted on the strength of a written confession which he retracted during
his trial, saying he had been punched in the stomach and beaten by a piece
of wood by police to force him to confess. He also claimed he has
been forced against his will to participate in the robbery and that
another man had planned and carried out the murders. The Supreme Court
acknowledged that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Molijan was
the instigator of the crime, but his death sentence was confirmed. Not only
Eusebio Molijar is the victim of injustice, as well as: Fernando Galera 26
years old, fish vendor, innocent but sentenced to death because he cant
afford to pay competent lawyers (4/1994)Richard Ong 33, innocent who
was sentenced to death in (12/1994) 8/1996. He was tortured and confessed
something which he didnt do. Hideshi Suzuki 38, Japanese man sentenced
to death in 12/1994 because of marijuana trafficking. H claimed that the
marijuana were planted on him by a police officer.
Those are a few of the many cases which proves that the judicial system in
the Philippines is sometimes inefficient, unfair, unjust and imperfect which
should be given priority and to strengthen.
Point: THE STATE HAS NO RIGHT TO DEPRIVE A PERSON OF HIS LIFE; GODIS
THE GIVER OF LIFE AND ONLY HE CAN TAKE IT

How could you revere God if you are fighting for death penalty should be
reimposed? How could you appreciate his creation if you are taking the life of
it? Let us all bear in mind that Jesus himself is a victim of capital punishment
instead of retribution and revenge, he forgave those who humiliated him and
even prayed for the. If God can forgive, why cant we? As God said, Love thy
neighbor as yourself. As a conclusion, we in the negative side believe that
death penalty should not be reimposed. As a child of God, we should uphold
the teachings of Christ which is love and reconciliation.