My name is Olivia, I am 15, and I wish to serve in public service as my career. For a school project I was tasked to debate to my class on a subject I felt strongly about. I chose the death penalty in our judiciary system. The death penalty is immoral and must be abolished. It is unethical and violates basic human rights. It is cruel to take the life of another human being, even if that criminal has taken another's life. Life in prison is an adequate punishment. Why do we attempt to show the evil in murder by murdering right back at the criminal? There is no way to sugarcoat it - the death penalty is murder. Innocent lives have been taken by the death penalty. How would you feel if your father was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was convicted of a murder he did not commit? If the death penalty is charged, and further evidence is uncovered, there is no going back. From the Death Penalty Information Center: "The death penalty carries the inherent risk of executing an innocent person. Since 1973, at least 200 people who were wrongly convicted and sentenced to death in the U.S. have been exonerated." One out of every eight people who are executed are later proven innocent.

The death penalty is a waste of tax payer dollars. The state of Florida estimates that the cost of each execution is around $3.2 million, which is six times the cost of keeping the person in prison for life.

I am also a Christian, and believe it is directly against God's will and His Word to commit murder. The Bible states in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Exodus 20:13 also states "Thou shalt not murder." The constitution was founded under the Bible and Christianity. It denies the founding father's wishes to enforce the death penalty. Are we not "One nation under God"? If we directly opposed God's command, how are we serving under Him? 

Please help me in my task to show my senator that a bill must be passed making it illegal. Uphold basic human life standards and show our government that we care!