Any punishment administered in an arbitrary manner is unfair.  For example: if speeders driving yellow cars were consistently ticketed, but speeders who drove other colored cars were  not ticketed, this would be considered unfair.
In the United States, the death penalty is administered in an arbitrary fashion depending on which county delivers the verdict.  Only 2% of counties in the United States have been responsible for most death penalty cases leading to executions since 1976.  All 3,125 inmates on death row as of January 1, 2013 came from just 20% of United States counties.  23 states and Washington D.C. have abolished the death penalty. Missouri has the death penalty and as of August 1st has executed 3 inmates just this year.

The United States capital punishment process:
· Discriminates based on socioeconomic status, race and geography.
· Is arbitrary, including in its use against the mentally ill.
· Costs taxpayers far more than Life Without Parole because of the expensive appeals process.
· Is not a deterrent to crime.
· Is often administered by ineffective defense attorneys.
· Diminishes the worldwide stature of the United States as it works to end human right violations in other countries.

Consider:  Is mercy or vengeance the motivation for my support of the death penalty?
Submitted by Libby Long

Questions?  Interested in joining the Peace and Justice Ministry?  Call me – 314-420-7195
Information obtained from The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC)