Hello, I'm John Donvan, moderator of Intelligent Squared U.S. Join us online at iq2us.org

to vote on the motion and keep the debate going.

Hello, I'm John Donvan.

This is Intelligent Squared U.S. and I, for an eye, that is the reason that Americans

cited most often in a credible poll for their support of the death penalty.

It seems that six out of ten of us do support the death penalty.

Although, when an eye for an eye was quoted in the New Testament, the teaching was that

sometimes the retribution is not really all that it seems to be cracked up to be.

And that's the point that 18 states seem to have agreed with by abolishing the death penalty

and the District of Columbia.

Another 15 have suspended it, and that leaves 17 states.

And the question is, should they follow suit?

Well, that sounds like the making of a debate, so let's have it.

Yes or no to this statement.

Abolish the death penalty.

We have four superbly qualified debaters on stage who will be arguing two against two,

four, and against this motion abolish the death penalty.

As always, our debate will go in three rounds and then our live audience here in New York City

votes to pick the winner and only one side wins.

The motion again abolish the death penalty.

Let's meet the team arguing for the motion, the team that wants to abolish.

Please welcome Diane Rust Tierney.

...