The Death Penalty: Can it be Justified. By Edward I. Koch (Essay Sample)

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Article Analysis
Edward Koch, in an article titled "The Death Penalty: Is it ever Justified?" reveals some of the arguments of individuals towards capital punishment and disputes the theories using personal opinions and insights from early philosophers. The publication first appeared in the Republican Newspaper on April 15th, 1985 and the write up was mainly geared at convincing individuals in support of the Republican party of the nature of justice provided in the United States. The Republican is considered as one of the media circulation platforms containing bias as it is inclined to favor the actions and conclusions of individuals that support the party involved. An assessment of the article by Koch reveals various myths and perspectives on the abolition of death penalty and provides arguments as to why the author supports capital punishment.
Firstly, the author acknowledges that all individuals are keen to protect their own lives including those that have been involved in acts of violence culminating to murder as well as those who have not had any experience with murderers. Koch, however, maintains that death penalty has been a controversial issue in the United States with some areas in support of the method of providing justice while some demographics oppose the practice (484). While the writer maintains a firm position in favor of capital punishment, he seeks to make the audience comprehend that his stand is arrived at through careful analysis of existing benefits and challenges of the death penalty.
Koch argues against the idea that capital punishment is barbaric based on the acclaims of peers that there is no humane way of ending the life of an individual despite the level of crime committed. Tolerating individuals that promote unjust actions by allowing them to serve a specified period and be reintegrated into the society will encourage the presence of more rogue behavior (Koch 484). Secondly, he reveals that other nations do not value the use of capital punishment as they have not experienced a high quota of murder crimes like the ones recorded in the United States. The possibility of executing an innocent victim is limited as statistics reveal few cases of mistaken identity in thoroughly examined crimes of murder where convicts are sentenced to death.
Another concern raised is on the recurrence rates of murder by similar individuals pushing the justice system to eliminate them through capital punishment in place of providing them a second opportunity for homicide. Value to life is only reflected when the victims are accorded the same level of justice as the crime perpetrators, therefore, the death penalty is a reflection of the importance of the safety and life of all citizens. Abolition of capital punishment to end discriminatory conviction is not a solution to unethical practices, but an extension of the sentence allows for the inclusion of all warranted criminals. Koch argues that the Bible as a moral foundation for the U.S. condemns murder but also prompts the elimination of murderers (486). Lastly, Koch reflects that individuals who reside in a state surrender all their rights to the government and therefore decisions made on their behalf to kill unjust persons cannot be considered unlawful.
The article seeks to address individuals concerned with the issue of the death penalty by providing the perspectives proposed in the past against the practice and offering counter arguments. The author adresses a neutral audience as he highlights the points presented by parties against and in support of capital punishment although he maintains his position on the subject matter. Koch appeals to the emotions of the audience through the use of vivid examples, statistics and a reflection of justice for the murder victim and that of the criminal to give the readers a chance to choose their side. The writer uses emotionally charged language when he echoes that it is easier being murdered in the United States than when one is a soldier in World War II (Koch 485). The comparison draws out the emotions of the audience to sympathize with the victims by highlighting the emotional and physical plight they endure to survive in the U.S. due to the increase of murderers.
Koch ensures to capture the culture of the United States through the use...