Position Paper Richard Derr 10-10-00 CN4999 The Death Penalty In an article by Amnesty International's Campaign on the United States of America, the author states, "More than 100 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. The USA by contrast has increased its rate of executions and the number of crimes punishable by death. At this time 38 states currently have the death penalty on their statute books". The article goes on to claim, "…showed first 75 words of 1554 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1554 total…a murder to have the possibility of committing the crime again, society has ceased to defend itself. The ratio of innocent lives saved per execution justifies the means, e.g., executing five of the most dangerous convicts will result in saving five innocent lives or more. In conclusion, the lives of innocent victims that may be spared because of the death penalty are justification enough. If you kill, you shall be killed. Period. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**