Life is a privilege that we are given when we are born. After birth the only certaintanty in life is death. That's why we should enjoy life and live it the way we believe, and no one should decide when your life should end except nature itself. The argument of the death penalty has been a very controversial subject for many years and will be for many more. It is very much based on ethical and moral opinions.
The author has based his essay on these principles, and it shows when he finishes his second paragraph. Koch is challenging the reader to make a choice. By asking whether the criminal is afraid that they are losing his or her life, puts the reader at a junction point. .
The author makes another case for the death penalty by using statistics gathered by a man called Adam Bedau, he refers to him as " one of the most implacable foes of capital punishment in this country- (Death and Justice, (pg 560), Koch, Edward I).
The term implacable means that the individual is unappeased by attempts to abolish the penalty. Adam Bedau has studied many executions and proved theories about wrongful executions are not conclusive enough to even think about removing the penalty.
Koch has a very strong pro- opinion on the death penalty. I believe that Koch devotes most of his essay to refuting opposition arguments because of deep moral and ethical opinions. Every argument leads back to an inept case made against the death penalty according to Koch. He makes very strong cases using appeal to emotion using examples of moral discretion such as rape and murder of young children. This appeal tactic is used to lead the audience with emotions to feel for these people, their families and have hatred breed within for the assailant.
He also uses examples and quotes from the bible such as "Thou shalt not kill-. This is always a powerful card to play, as he knows that the church and their processes influence many individuals.