Public Speaking
Michael Robinson.
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Today I will be explaining why I think the Death Penalty should be abolished universally. Today I will be bring you three main points: firstly the value of human life, secondly the prohibitive costs of introducing the death penalty, lastly the need for rehabilitation not revenge.
Ladies and gentlemen personally i don't believe that the state or anyone for that matter should have the right to take someone's life. Life is the most precious thing that we have and should be not only be cherished but protected. Even someone who has killed another person should not be killed themselves because by doing so we lower ourselves to their level. I believe that someone like this should serve the rest of their life in prison as punishment for their crimes not just end their life. As a society we have outlined that there is nothing worse than killing another person. This is reflected in our laws and in our culture. Killing is wrong. So why would it be ok for the state to kill someone?
On to my second point the prohibitive costs of putting someone on death's row. First there is the trial followed by appeals and legal fees. All the while the person charged with the crime is in a prison with lots of extra guards and security measured. Also the state is paying for all there food and needs. Also the ending of there life is rather expensive requiring more guards and a form of execution. Reviewing 15 studies in the United States of death penalty costs conducted between 2000 and 2016, the study found that, across the country, seeking the death penalty imposes an average of approximately $700,000 more in case-level costs than not seeking death. A February 2017 Fiscal Impact Report prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee of the New Mexico legislature estimated that bringing back the death penalty for three types of homicides in the state would cost as much as $7.2 million over the first three years.
On my third and final point the need for rehabilitation not revenge. We have to focus on preparing these people to re-enter society. People who do terrible things have there punishment it is their prison sentences and they should no longer be punished once they have completed their time in prison. So we should welcome them into our society. One of the main arguments for the death penalty is that people will murder again but if we actually make an effort to help these people we will have no need for capital punishment. There is also an argument to say that capital punishment prevents crime through fear of execution. Victorian Supreme Court judge Lex Lasry says the death penalty does not deter crime, "it's just a terrible thing to do". Ladies and gentlemen thank you for your time.
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Today I will be explaining why I think the Death Penalty should be abolished universally. Today I will be bring you three main points: firstly the value of human life, secondly the prohibitive costs of introducing the death penalty, lastly the need for rehabilitation not revenge.
Ladies and gentlemen personally i don't believe that the state or anyone for that matter should have the right to take someone's life. Life is the most precious thing that we have and should be not only be cherished but protected. Even someone who has killed another person should not be killed themselves because by doing so we lower ourselves to their level. I believe that someone like this should serve the rest of their life in prison as punishment for their crimes not just end their life. As a society we have outlined that there is nothing worse than killing another person. This is reflected in our laws and in our culture. Killing is wrong. So why would it be ok for the state to kill someone?
On to my second point the prohibitive costs of putting someone on death's row. First there is the trial followed by appeals and legal fees. All the while the person charged with the crime is in a prison with lots of extra guards and security measured. Also the state is paying for all there food and needs. Also the ending of there life is rather expensive requiring more guards and a form of execution. Reviewing 15 studies in the United States of death penalty costs conducted between 2000 and 2016, the study found that, across the country, seeking the death penalty imposes an average of approximately $700,000 more in case-level costs than not seeking death. A February 2017 Fiscal Impact Report prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee of the New Mexico legislature estimated that bringing back the death penalty for three types of homicides in the state would cost as much as $7.2 million over the first three years.
On my third and final point the need for rehabilitation not revenge. We have to focus on preparing these people to re-enter society. People who do terrible things have there punishment it is their prison sentences and they should no longer be punished once they have completed their time in prison. So we should welcome them into our society. One of the main arguments for the death penalty is that people will murder again but if we actually make an effort to help these people we will have no need for capital punishment. There is also an argument to say that capital punishment prevents crime through fear of execution. Victorian Supreme Court judge Lex Lasry says the death penalty does not deter crime, "it's just a terrible thing to do". Ladies and gentlemen thank you for your time.