A year and a month ago from today, the state of
Georgia executed Troy Anthony Davis for a crime many believed he did not
commit. He was executed despite major doubts about evidence used to convict him
of killing police officer Mark Mac Phial (including the recantations of seven
of the nine non-police witnesses). There was an international movement that
called for his life to be spare. However despite all this Troy Davis was put to
death on September 21, 2011.
Do you believe Troy Davis was innocent? And, after watching the video do
you think there was enough evidence to sentence him to death?
Crime is an evident part of society, and everyone is
aware that something must be done. What punishment do they really deserve? Many
believe that criminals deserve only one fate: death penalty; they say, “Eye for
eye, tooth for tooth and life for life” However, others believe this is totally
immoral and ethically incorrect. Whenever such a harsh idea comes up, people
from both sides start arguing. One side says justice; the other says vengeance.
I invite you to express your opinion towards such a controversial issue.
I invite you to express your opinion towards such a controversial issue.
- Where do you stand on?
- Do you think death penalty should be abolished?
- Should someone have the power to decide on somebody else’s life?
- Does your opinion change with Ray’s Story, another “Death Penalty Mistake”?
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ReplyDeleteI must confess that before learning about Troy Davis’ and Ray’s story I’d never thought about death penalty, I didn’t care about it. However after seeing what can happen and how close a tragedy can occur I am totally against death penalty. Having seen the first video I believe that there wasn’t enough evidence to sentence Troy Davis to death. The main reason he was convicted was witness testimony, neither DNA nor physical evidence... The jury only took one hour to decide he was guilty! Do you think that’s enough time to decide on someone’s life? What is more, almost all of the witnesses had changed their stories and some claimed they were pressured by the police officers to blame Troy Davis. How can the legal system allow such an injustice? It really makes my blood boil…
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, I believe that someone should never be sent to death row, not even if you are proven 100% guilty. We are humans and, therefore, we make mistakes. Also, don’t forget that our legal system is also human hence it has flaws! Moreover, there simply can’t be a penalty that is not reversible. Maybe I sound as a criminal defender but this is not the case! I think they should be punished, but death is not the way! How can law say “You cannot kill” by killing? Besides I think the penalty’s purpose is to provide some type of rehabilitation, an opportunity to change and chasten, to say “I’m sorry, I was wrong”. If the criminal is killed then the intention of penalty is defeated.
Continuing on, the main reason I think death penalty should be abated is because the life of someone shouldn’t lie on another person. Someone, just for the fact he’s studied law over 10 years should not have the power to decide whether someone can live or die. It’s crazy! I’d also like to add that it is totally and unfair system that discriminates the minorities and the poor. The poorest are the ones who have the poor defence; therefore they are more likely to be convited...
In conclusion, just for the fact of the possibility of killing an “innocent man” and because if it continues there’s always the chance of this tragedy happening I think death penalty has to stop. For me there is no reasonable argument to justify the loss of an innocent man, like Troy Davis. So let me tell those people who say “eye for an eye, life for a life” something: as Gandhi once said “an eye for an eye turns the whole world blind”. Death penalty is not justice it is vengeance. It must be abolished!