Analysis of Edward Koch’s Argument in Death and Justice

Discussion

The Death Penalty has been a widely controversial topic in America as it is illegal in 27 of the 50 states in America. Only 21 of the 50 states have been a part of this movement including Texas, Alabama, and more. During the 1970’s this document it explains why it should have been legalized in New York. Written by former New York Mayor Edward Koch “Death and Justice: How Capital Punishment Affirms Life”. He wants the Death Penalty to be legalized due to high murder rates at the time of his term. However, it should be legal in all states but under one condition that the family of the victims or close friends should be only ones that can choose who lives and dies. He does call the method “barbaric” but calls murder a “disease” that must be cured so a compromise should be used.

Edward Koch was Mayor of New York during 1978 -1989 but as Mayor he added condos for the homeless and rebuilt homes for the next generation. While in office as mayor new problems has arisen from the AIDS epidemic, more homelessness, and the rising racial conflicts. With the best intentions he strived for eliminating anything that could damage the city.

In the document it is very much explained that if the death penalty was legal suspects wouldn’t have taken any more lives like before. Due to it not being able to happen soon enough when they were released from prison more innocent lives were lost in the process. In rare cases in the past someone may be innocent and even they are sentenced to death by lethal injection or the electric chair. As seen before mistakes can happen, and it would ruin the lives of family members and the person who served time in prison.

Edward Koch relates to logos in this document as he was once mayor of New York during high murder and crime rates. When his term ended, New York had one of the highest total number of murders at 2,605 in 1990. Even at the time during his term the death penalty was illegal in the state for he believed that it would save more lives. Compared with totals during 2012-2016 they slowly decreased overtime.

This case he was wrong in a lot of ways more than once for in 2016 it was reported that 630 murders were recorded which is signifying less. But he was still right as other murderers have taken more lives when they left prison which could have been prevented in some cases. He then mentions someone capable of this crime calling him “Mr. Willie, previously had been convicted of aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, and the murders of a Louisiana deputy and a man from Missouri”.

Then again for a prisoner named “Lemuel Smith who served 4 life sentences... lured a women corrections officer into the Chaplin’s Office and strangled her. He then mutilated and dismembered her body”. This was not just in the state of New York but at the time around The United States. As some infamous serial killers were made famous for avoiding the death penalty in those states even if they took dozens of lives.

The judge or attorney should talk to the family of victims about the death penalty and not a group of strangers serving jury duty. The Death Penalty should be legal only under that one condition that the family involved are the ones who tell the judge if the death penalty is what they want. If anyone that served time for murder were to leave prison could take another life in future. Edward Koch a former Mayor of New York once tried to fight for legalization because it could save more lives in the end. This could prevent that from happening or maybe the suspect will have a change of heart if the people affected gave them a second chance which could change their ways for the best.

References

1. Edward I. Koch Death and Justice: How Capital Punishment Affirms Life
2. Accessed September, 17, 2019 Death Penalty Information Center https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/state-and-federal-info/state-by-state/new-york
3. Accessed September, 17, 2019 New York Crime Rates 1960-2016 http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/nycrime.htm
4. Accessed September, 17, 2019 Edward Koch Columbia University Press https://cup.columbia.edu/book/ed-koch-and-the-rebuilding-of-new-york-city/9780231150330