Question

In a debate about capital punishment, your opponent argues that capital punishment is state-sanctioned killing and
can kill innocent people. Which statement provides the best refutation to this argument?
O Executing criminals eliminates the possibility of rehabilitation
O Studies in the U.S. have shown that capital cases cost between one and seven million dollars.
O Many more innocent people have been killed by paroled or released murderers than have been wrongly
executed.
The death penalty is a deterrent to future criminals

Answer 1

Answer:

Many more innocent people have been killed by paroled or released murderers than have been wrongly  executed.

Explanation:

Remember that to refute an argument means to disprove it by using your logic and reasoning in an argument, it is a reply. In this case my opponent is against capital punishement and gives me the arguments that support the idea. It´s argument states that the capital punishment is a "state-sanctioned killing and can kill innocent people."

To refute this I need to address to the topics presented. The option chosen is the one that does this, it makes a comparison of the numbers of deaths resulted from each type of outcome. In my opponent´s argument innocent people sentenced to death could eventually die. In my argument I state that although this has happened, the number is very small. In fact, the criminals that are released have killed more innocent people. This is a way to compare the pros and cons, in which my argument presents way more benefits that the cons presented by my opponent.