To Be or Not To Be: The Death Penalty
Capital punishment has been a constant heated debate throughout the world, let alone, America. This punishment, also known as the death penalty, is when a person who has been convicted by the court of law can be sentenced to death. Many may argue that Capital Punishment is inhumane, portrays social injustice and does not guarantee deterrence. With thirty two states that still use this form of punishment, passing an abolishment on the death penalty would be a wasteful time-consuming act when there are other social problems we should advert our attention towards, especially when bills and laws can take up to twenty years to pass through each level of government. A just society requires the death penalty for the taking of lives. The death penalty is a necessary punishment in the modern age due to increasing terrorism, serial killers, and heinous crimes that are being committed. It is not vengeful, just fair. Capital Punishment deters crime, provides closure and vindication, and prevents the power of re-offending using retribution. As a society we should
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But many feel that the death penalty is necessary to incapacitate those too dangerous to live, beyond a simple sentence of life in prison. Some families may feel as though this punishment provides only further hurt and no closure. However, knowing that the criminal who has taken so much will be rid of the ability to take any more from anyone provides closure and vindication. Vicki Romano, mother of murdered daughter, says "Revenge would be going out and killing one of [the murderer's] family members. The death penalty isn't revenge. It's the law." (Romano). Families can feel safe in knowing the fact that innocent lives will be safe, including their own. What most people fail to realize is that these killers are criminals, not just your average
One example of the closure that is provided can be seen with a victim of Boston Marathon Bombing, Adrianne Haslet-Davis. In a quote for Time magazine, Adrianne expressed her feelings on the situation. “Many in the survivor community feel like the death penalty offers a sense of justice being done. And that’s what his sentence felt like to me” (Cushing, Renny and Adrianne Haslet-Davis). After the perpetrator was sentenced to death for his actions, Haslet-Davis was able to leave the courtroom feeling satisfied, knowing that the man who had caused her and so many others harm would finally get the justice he deserved. Even more evidence of the justice and closure families of the victims can be seen through the results of a recent study. According to the recent study, over 50% of the families of victims felt fulfilled once the person accused of committing that crime was sentenced to death. (Do families of victims feel justice with the death penalty). The family of a murder victim would most likely not be satisfied if the suspected killer was able to keep his life after taking someone else’s. Knowing that the killer would pay the price for his actions with his life would be a rewarding feeling. The fact that the death penalty provides justice and closure for the families of the victims and the victims themselves is yet
In order to limit the number of crimes, keeping innocent people from getting executed, and save the taxpayers millions of dollars, we need to eliminate the death penalty in all states for good. Capital punishment has occurred in the U.S. since colonial times. Since then, more than 13,000 people have been lawfully executed. There are 31 states that still allow the death penalty, and they must change. These states need to eliminate it on the grounds that it transmits a dangerous risk of punishing the innocent, it is wrong and cruel, and is an ineffective prevention of crime versus the other option of life in prison without parole.
More than two centuries ago, the death penalty was commonplace in the United States, but today it is becoming increasingly rare. In the article “Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished?”, Diann Rust-Tierney argues that it should be abolished, and Joshua Marquis argues that it should not be abolished. Although the death penalty is prone to error and discrimination, the death penalty should not be abolished because several studies show that the death penalty has a clear deterrent effect, and we need capital punishment for those certain cases in which a killer is beyond redemption.
The moral and ethical debate on the sentencing and enforcement of capital punishment has long baffled the citizens and governing powers of the United States. Throughout time, the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, and the vast majority beliefs of Americans, have been in a constant state of perplexity. Before the 1960s, the Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution were interpreted as permitting the death penalty. However, in the early 1960s, it was suggested that the death penalty was a "cruel and unusual" punishment and therefore unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment. Many argue that capital punishment is an absolute necessity, in order to deter crime, and to ‘make things right’ following a heinous crime of murder. Despite the belief that capital punishment may seem to be the only tangible, permanent solution to ending future capital offenses, the United States should remove this cruel and unnecessary form of punishment from our current judicial systems.
Have you ever wondered during any point of your life about the severity or how influential the death penalty is on criminals and the U.S citizens? If you haven’t never given it consideration before, you will after this argumentative essay. The death penalty is a government practice where a person is sentenced to death by a state for a crime they have committed and even dates back to the 1600s. Out of fifty states, thirty-two still have the death penalty in effect. Even with the death penalty still occurring in these states, not too many states sentence criminals to it anymore. However, Texas is one of the states that still rely on the punishment heavily which then corrupts their state spending for beneficial things such as emergencies, roads, or economy. Although the death penalty might seem like a good idea to end a person’s life, I for one, however, believe that the death penalty is outdated for the 21st Century and should be abolished.
Should capital punishment be practiced in the United States? This question has been highly debated for many years because of the numerous, often conflicting perspectives from which various parties have attempted to answer it. These parties range from high-ranking politicians seeking to lower the national crime rate to the average United States taxpayer who does not want to see his or her money being spent inefficiently. In addition to such empirical concerns, moral issues such as conceptions of justice arise as well. After examining the history of the issue, its international status, and the arguments of the opposing factions, we will recommend that capital punishment
Why is the death penalty used as a means of punishment for crime? Is this just a way to solve the nations growing problem of overcrowded prisons, or is justice really being served? Why do some view the taking of a life morally correct? These questions are discussed and debated upon in every state and national legislature throughout the country. Advantages and disadvantages for the death penalty exist, and many members of the United States, and individual State governments, have differing opinions. Yet it seems that the stronger arguments, and evidence such as cost effectiveness, should lead the common citizen to the opposition of Capital Punishment.
Many people may be aware there is a punishment for convicts known as the death penalty, also known as capital punishment. This penalty allows the state to put a convicted man or woman to death by: lethal injection, lethal gas, electrocution, or a firing squad. For many years protestors have been pushing for states to abolish the ability of sentencing someone to death for committing a crime. The death penalty has always been one of the most debated issues in the United States. As our country grows older and wiser, evidence clearly points to the fact that the death penalty is not a good solution. The death penalty is too harsh and should be abolished.
The United States is a country whose ideals is founded on protecting the rights of its citizens, making sure each action they take will benefit its people without compromising the liberties America had fought to earn. However, once those liberties are compromised, this may lead to protests and violence which in turn may cause large rates of incarceration and possibly death. The issue of capital punishment has existed since the 18th century BC, and it is an issue that will continue until justice and individual liberties find a common ground that they share. With a growing debate over universally banning capital punishment in the states, as shown by 61% of voters in a 2010 poll, or forcing all states to conform to using the death penalty, the
Although the death penalty is legal in some parts of the United States, it has no place in our quest for justice and needs to be abolished. In particular, the death penalty is ineffective because of the time gone to waste from the salaried guardsmen being paid overtime, to the innocents being put on row. Due to the crucial time being lost, the United States is not spending money adequately, resulting in the downfall to debt. Not only is money being lost, but racial bias exhibited during trial is inadmissible and has a huge effect on how people in the society are portrayed, as well as treated. Abolishing the capital punishment will take the United States one step closer in recovering lost money and
Capital punishment has been in the United States long before the country was formed. Influenced by Great Britain in the 17th century, settlers brought over the idea of government sanctioned murder, and even now, over 400 years later, the majority of the United States is still in favour. With thirty one states currently practicing or allowing the law to remain on the books, the message of the States stance on capital punishment is clear; however, the current state of capital punishment in this country is racist, costly and by far the worst example of a reputable deterrent against crime. For these reasons, the death penalty is outdated for modern society and needs to be abolished immediately.
“The use of the death penalty in the United States has been rapidly declining since the end of the 1990s” (Dieter, 2015). This is contrast to the believes of the Founding Fathers where “the death penalty was widely accepted at the time the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights were ratified” (Gardner & Anderson, 2014). While the crimes have not changed, aspects of capital punishment which were once viewed as constitutional, today are deemed cruel and unusual. The prevailing liberal view sees the death penalty as morally unjustified and a vengeful form retribution. “It is the most brutal form of state power, requires massive state administrations and it costs significantly more than life imprisonment which is both more humane and equally effective” (Davidson, 2015). They point to the lack of deterrence it provides and highlight the racial and gender biases of the criminal justice system and the potential for the execution of the innocent by the State. In contrast, those in favor of capital punishment see it as a valid, moral and constitutional punishment as punishments should be imposed in proportion to the crime. The death penalty is reserved for the most violent of crimes in society and without it, justice is not achieved for victims and their families. The death penalty must be viewed again as a valid, moral and legal
Capital punishment in the United States is becoming more and more of a topic of conversation and controversy; eighteen states have outlawed the death penalty and the governors of three other states declaring a moratorium, meaning they will not sign executions during their time in office (Lovett). The national trend of banning the death penalty should definitely continue. Many criminals on death row are exonerated, making it an unreliable system of punishment. Also, capital punishment is not used equally in cases. The death penalty can also be considered cruel and unusual punishment, which is against the 8th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. The death penalty should be abolished because it is not the right way to deal with
Many Americans believe the death penalty should be allowed in order to deter crime and bring justice. This belief often stems from the violent world they are shown every day in the news. Understandably they hear and see these violent crimes and think that extreme punishments must be given for extreme crimes. Despite this, 37% of Americans oppose the death penalty (Gallop). These people often argue that not only does capital punishment fail to solve the growing crime problem in the U.S., but that innocent people can be executed in the pursuit of justice. This is certainly true; not even supporters of the death penalty would deny that point. After all, no matter how great we think our justice system is, there are flaws in it just like in every other criminal justice system. The flawed nature of our justice system brings about a very important question, though: what is justice? While it is sometimes difficult to give a simple and comprehensive definition of justice, saying it is fair and reasonable behavior is a good and short definition. Since our justice system will continue to be flawed and humans are sometimes unreasonable and unfair, we cannot possibly have justice all the time; an innocent person will end up being punished at some point. Since this is the case, justice must be whatever the most beneficial option available is. Needless to say, if the death penalty is allowed it must be because it is the most productive option since justice must be productive if it is
The death penalty has always been one of the most hotly debated issues in the United States. As our country grows older and wiser, however, evidence clearly points to the fact that the death penalty is not a good solution. There is no question that killing another person is the most heinous crime that one can commit. Arguments today boil down to three key points on why Death Penalty should be eliminated which are the age of the murderer, the chance of margin of error occurring and the costs of sentencing someone to the death penalty.