Reply #16: I am against it because I believe in universal human rights. [View All]

I believe that we have certain rights that are ours for no more than being human beings. Consequently, everyone has these rights - the young and the old, the healthy and the infirm, the rich and the poor. Among these rights, I think, is a right to life (not to be confused with an anti-choice position).

These universal rights are non-negotiable. One cannot bargain away their rights. One cannot sign them away, or throw them away either. What that means, though, is that even though people among us have committed some truly heinous acts - torture, murder, rape, kidnapping - they still have rights. In other words, the are not monsters even despite the monstrous nature of their actions - they are still people.

The death penalty as punishment for acts committed runs contrary to my belief in universal human rights. Imposing death on another individual is, in my opinion, murder no matter by whom or for what purpose it is imposed. There is no such thing as a virtuous murder, no such thing as a righteous killing. There are times when it may be necessary, such as when your own life is threatened or the life of another, but it is nothing to be cheered or celebrated. It is to be mourned, as it is a violation of that individual's right to be alive.

At least, that's my .02.