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Advantages
- It permanently removes the worst criminals, leaving society safer.
- It would be cheaper than incarcerating a person for life.
- It offers retribution, a life for a life.
- Fear of death penalty may deter other potential killer. For example in Singapore, which often carries out death penalties, there is far less serious crime.
- If someone murders someone else, they have given up their human rights, including the one to stay alive themselves.
- It 'fits the crime' of murder- if you have killed, you should be killed as well.
- The most serious criminals (murderers) only understand the language of violence.
- The Old Testament lists crimes which can be punished by the death penalty.
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Disadvantages
- It contradicts the most basic human right to life.
- It can be torturously painful.
- Some countries with the death penalty have higher rates of murder than those without the death penalty- it doesn't seem to deter.
- Innocent people will be executed by mistake. It may be that a person has killed someone, but perhaps only in self defence, for instance.
- The families and friends of those waiting for the death penalty, who are innocent, have to go through terrible trauma. Why should they have to suffer?
- There are alternatives to the death penalty, such as life inprisionment which may give the opportunity for someone to change.
- Jesus died for all of our sins.
- The death penalty undermines the sanctity of life.
- "we cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing" US catholic bishop, 1994.
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