Some think that "an eye for an eye" is an effective means of punishment, but others believe that such means of punishment are not effective in a modern society. The death penalty is a highly disputable topic, one that separates and unites. People are against the death penalty because they think it is immoral and it isn't right to take someone else's life. Some are also against the death penalty because they believe that the government should not have the right to dictate who lives and who dies. Both sides of the death penalty argument are valid, but it falls on each individual to make the decision as to where they stand. Two individuals that stand on opposite sides of the debate are Edward Koch and David Bruck. Edward Koch uses the rhetorical appeals of emotion and logic in his article, "Death and Justice: How Capital Punishment Affirms Life" more effectively than David Bruck does in "The Death Penalty".
Mayor Edward Koch believes that the death penalty is necessary for society, and he uses his article, "Death and Justice: How Capital Punishment Affirms Life" to show readers why they too should believe in the death penalty. This article was published five months after the executions of Robert Lee Willie and Joseph Carl Shaw. He published it as a response to statements made by Robert Lee Willie and Joseph Carl Shaw moments before their executions. Robert Lee Willie said, "Killing people is wrong.It makes no different whether it's citizens, countries, or governments. Killing is wrong" (Koch 33). Two weeks later Joseph Carl Shaw said, "Killing is wrong when I did it. Killing is wrong when you do it. I hope you have the courage and moral strength to stop the killing" (Koch 33). In his article, Edward Koch uses the two rhetorical appeals of emotion and logic effortlessly.
Edward Koch's ability to show the reader that he is credible is what allows him to easily gain the reader's trust.