The Death Penalty When it comes to the topic of capital murder, most of us will readily agree that the murderer must pay the consequences. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is that the death penalty is the appropriate solution. While some are convinced that capital punishment is the necessary consequence of first degree murder. Others argue that this method is not a wise economic solution and does not deter crime. I tend to agree with these individuals and am against the death penalty. In recent discussions on capital punishment, it is shown that the death penalty is not a deterrent and that crime rates do not decrease because of the death penalty. According to Hugo Adam Bedau Ph.D., “Of all those convicted on felony charges it can also be argued that the death penalty saves lives, George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States of America, he said: thinking of the victims, and the reason I support the death penalty is because it saves lives” (Bush). While I wholeheartedly agree with Bush that we must keep the victims in mind, I tend to wonder how the death penalty can save lives. If the killer is already imprisoned, how can more lives be taken? It simply doesn't save lives, but rather takes more by killing the killer. Some might argue that I have misrepresented Bush's statement, and argue that when he talks about saving lives, he indirectly means that capital punishment deters crime. If this is the case, Bush's argument does not hold up against Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics, which show that states without the death penalty have perceivable lower crime rates than states with capital punishment: in fact, in 2012, per 100,000 population the average homicide rate in states with the death penalty was 4.7, while the average homicide rate in non-death penalty states was 3.7 (FBI). The point is, although George W. Bush supported the death penalty and wanted nothing but the best for this country, I disagree with his statements about the death penalty and believe the evidence I have provided is a reason why you should