“U.N. Universal Declaration on Human Rights states that there are two essential human rights that every human being has: the right not to be tortured and the right not to be killed (Prejean 182).” The death penalty obviously infringes these rights, but at what cost? There needs to be an equal punishment for those who have committed the crimes, but it is all too often an innocent person is put to death for a crime …showed first 75 words of 724 total…

…showed last 75 words of 724 total…a convenient symbol and an easy way to prove how tough they are on criminals and crime (Prejean 183).” Everyone can agree that crime is frightening and that criminals need to be punished. However, killing someone in the name vengeance, that is not a right that we should have. We should allow God to decide. I believe the death penalty should be abandoned. It is the only way we can be sure justice has been served.