The death penalty is an absolute violation of human rights. It is a cruel and unusual punishment and the application of this is completely unjust, targeting the poor and people of color. The recent case of Troy Davis has proved that our "justice" system is still fraught with racism and should not be trusted with the lives of our citizens. Lengthy waiting times and botched executions are tantamount to mental and physical torture. On top of all this, it fails to even deter future violent crime.
The U.S. is the only industrialized country in the Western world that continues this barbaric practice. The United Nations has called for a universal ban for years, and it's about time that we catch up on our basic human rights.