Agreed with the above answer. Other points to consider. not my opinions necessarily, but arguments that might work:
Socially - Juries are required to sentence a person to death, as are judges. Executioners have to push the button and kill people. A civilized government should not require those in its service to carry out executions.
Morally - the obvious argument is that taking a human life is wrong in any situation, and a government that kills its citizens is committing the moral equivalent of murder. It's the "You murdered someone so we are going to murder you" argument. It's a contradiction.
Constitutionally - I could use the 14th amendment - due process and equal protection under the law for all citizens - to argue that, as pohnpei points out, people do not receive equal legal defenses. Until recently, the mentally impaired could be executed in Texas. In some states you cannot be executed at all. My argument would be that it is impossible to apply the death penalty in a way that meets the 14th amendment, regardless of method.
Historically - The death penalty has only been illegal in this country for 4 years - from 1972 - 1976. Other than that, we have always had a death penalty, with no evidence whatsoever that it is beneficial to either justice or society besides the fact we get to take revenge.
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