Abolishing the Death Penalty Thesis - 2058 Words

Abolishing the Death Penalty October 18, 2010 Abolishing the Death Penalty The death penalty has been an active force in the United States for decades. In the early history of our country, public executions were quite popular. Thousands have been executed with the majority occurring in the early twentieth century. But public sentiment towards the executions began to wane as the concepts of basic human rights were being developed throughout the century. As a result, a kind of unofficial moratorium was placed on all executions while several Supreme Court cases were taking place to determine the legality of the punishment. The result of the cases actually made the death penalty illegal as it stood, so several states rewrote their†¦show more content†¦Proponents of the death penalty also view it as a deterrent to crime. (â€Å"Same old†, 1990). Just by having the possible punishment of death as an end result to a heinous crime has lowered the murder rate in some states. The feeling is that the more executions you have, the lower the homicide rate you will have. Not to mention the innocent lives you will save. Supporters of capital punishment will cite studies showing that murderers who are allowed to live will inevitably kill again. Studies have shown that murderers awaiting their death penalty sentence to be carried out have killed correction officers, knowing there could be no additional fate assigned to them. Another argument made in favor of the death penalty is one of Biblical proportions. There are some activists that say the Bible itself proclaims the right to execute a perpetrator of the most serious of crimes by quoting a scripture from Leviticus 24:20 – â€Å"†¦fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured.† The old adage has not been lost on those who feel that it is their God given right to enforce the laws that God has given them regarding the taking of a human life. (Gray, 2010) Lastly, many supporters of capital punishment feel that it is appropriate to give a punishment that fits the crime and one that is universal. It doesn’t matter aShow MoreRelatedThe Death Penalty Should Be Abolished1306 Words   |  6 Pageschanged since the 17th century, so why not the age old penalty of death? Capital punishment in the United States is a highly debated topic. Arguments that want to get rid of this method of punishment usually mention the many problems that capital punishment is plagued with. The death penalty has many issues that cannot be resolved, and since these issues can’t be solved, the death penalty should be abolished. â€Å"The irrevocable nature of the death penalty renders it an unsustainable and indefensible remedyRead MoreCapital Punishment : A Cruel And Violent Process1343 Words   |  6 PagesThesis: Capital punishment is a cruel and violent process that is extremely expensive to many taxpayers, discriminating against one s race and well being in justifying cases, and overall has a negative effect on society. I. High in cost A. Life in prison B. Cost of taxes C. Cost of programs II. Discrimination in cases A. Wealth B. Racism III. Violent in application A. Cruel and unusual B. Denial and rights IV. Counters of argument A. Statistics B. Deterrence C. Life Capital punishment isRead MoreDevelopment Of The Prison System3366 Words   |  14 Pagesthe dreaded death penalty, along with other forms of punishments in particular floggings, execution and transportation. The death penalty was to be used in circumstances that were severe as the main form of punishment according to (Muncie, 1996). The main reason was due to the deteriorating usage of prisons in the 16th and 17th century. In his study Muncie also established that eventually, towards the ending of the 1600’s; transportation emerged as the prominent deterrent penalty ; and henceRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 Pagesany company can confront. Worse, however, is when such risks are allowed to continue for years. Ford Explorers equipped with Firestone tires were involved in more than 200 deaths from tire failures and vehicle rollovers. After news of the accidents began surfacing, Ford and Firestone each blamed the other for the deaths. Eventually, inept crisis management brought a host of lawsuits resulting in massive recalls and billions in damages. GENERAL WRAP-UP Where possible, the text depicts majorRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesdoctor obligated by the same laws as everybody else? 3. Would people be better off without society regimenting their lives and even their deaths? 4. Should the doctor make the woman’s death from a drug overdose appear to be an accident? 5. Does the state have the right to force continued existence on those who don’t want to live? 6. What is the value of death prior to society’s perspective on personal values? 7. Should the doctor have sympathy for the woman’s suffering, or should he care more about