Capital punishment, also known as the "death penalty," is a topic so controversial that it precludes all fifty United States from coming to an agreement whether or not to incorporate it into the judicial system or when to apply it. In fact, twelve states have chosen to abolish capital punishment completely and solely institute life imprisonment. With constant changes in the judicial system and fights over the severity of a crime, it has become increasingly harder to make a case for retaining or abolishing the death penalty. Numerous arguments have been made in defense and in support of its enforcement. Although the two arguments, the "Best Bet Argument," written by Ernest van den Haag, and the "Common Sense and Anecdotal Evidence Argument," presented by Louis Pojman, do not cover all facets of the death penalty, they may help solidify one's decision to either support or abolish the death penalty. .
Dr. Brill paraphrased the "Best Bet Argument," by Ernest Haag, in the following statements:.
1. Since statistical evidence is inconclusive regarding whether the death penalty (DP) is a uniquely effective deterrent (UED), we in effect make a bet whether we impose it or not.
2. By not imposing the death penalty, we bet that the DP is not a UED, and hence risk not saving the lives of some murder victims.
3. By imposing the death penalty, we bet that the DP is UED, and hence risk needlessly putting to death some murderers.
4. It is better to risk needlessly putting to death some murderers, than to risk not saving the lives of some murder victims.
5. Therefore, we should impose the death penalty.
More simply stated, by imposing the death penalty, there is a risk of putting to death those falsely accused of murder. By not imposing the death penalty, there is a risk of allowing murderers a greater opportunity to resume taking the lives of innocent victims. Also, by imposing the death penalty, it is to say that the death penalty is a "uniquely effective deterrent," in that it is the deterrent or punishment that has the greatest effect on a criminal.
