The Problem of Capital Punishment The question of capital punishment is a controversial topic that encompasses many moral and empirical aspects of human justice. Ultimately, the key question regarding the death penalty is: Is the death penalty an appropriate form of punishment for the justice system of the United States of America to impose? This key issue incorporates the empirical and moral claims of opponents both for and against capital punishment in America. The main empirical questions concern whether or not the death penalty is imposed in a biased manner, whether it serves as a deterrent for future crimes, and whether it is a cost-effective option for the country. Moral concerns include the idea of ​​justice as “an eye for an eye,” whether or not capital punishment is “playing God,” and whether the death penalty is a cruel and unusual form of punishment. The position we recommend to our candidate is opposition to capital punishment because the evidence shows that it is a biased government action, incapable of deterring crime, not economically beneficial, unjust, cruel and unusual. The death penalty in America dates back to the colonial period. . Its use was, at best, fragmented among colonies and ultimately among states, with each state having its own laws regarding the use of capital punishment. For as long as it has existed in the United States, there have been controversies and differing opinions regarding the death penalty. One of the nation's first views was that of Dr. Benjamin Rush, who argued that the death penalty did not deter crime, but actually caused increased crime rates. This is a widespread opinion even today and has generally been confirmed by the data. Throughout the nineteenth century, the divided path...... middle of paper .......deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=5&did=184>.Saltzman, Jonathan. “Death Penalty Pushes Lifeless to Suburbs Lawmakers' Skeptical Law May Be Infallible.” The Boston Globe. October 2, 2003. February 12, 2004. The death penalty. Amnesty International..Victims and the death penalty. Death Penalty Information Center. February 25, 2004. Uniform Crime Reports January-December 2002. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Washington: Released June 16, 2003.York, Byron. “Popularity of capital”. National online review. 27 May 2003. The National Review. 2/21/04 .