The issue of capital punishment in the United States has caused controversy around the world for a long time. But what are the two arguments on the death penalty?
The United States are one of a minority of countries which still accepts the death penalty as a form of punishment. Some see the death penalty as a barbaric punishment which violates moral values, whereas others as an important tool and deterrent in fighting pre-meditated, and often violent murder. The definition of capital punishment is "the killing of a person via judicial process for retribution or incapacitation. The crimes that result in the death penalty are known as capital offences, and in the United States generally refers to high-grade murders. The crimes that may result in the death penalty differs from state to state.
Some Arguments for Capital Punishment
Some argue that the death of a criminal gives closure to their victim's (if they are stiil alive) and their families.
The death penalty serves as a deterrent to criminals who may be considering committing a capital offence.
One of the main principals of punishment and the judicial system is that the penalty fits the crime. If someone violently murders another individual or numerous people, then it makes sense for the punishment to be death.
Some anti-death penalty campaigners describe examples of people on death row, or people have already been killed have then been proved innocent. Today, the accuracy of modern forensics and DNA testing makes it very unlikely for an innocent person to be put on death row. Furthering this point, it is argued that the number of innocent people that may be killed is equalised by the number of actual criminals that are set free.
Putting people in prison, as opposed to executing them gives them a chance of parole (or the small chance of escape), meaning they can commit more crimes. Capital punishment means there is no chance of the criminal committing another crime.
Some Arguments Against the Death Penalty
The financial cost of putting people to death, once you consider extra appeals, additional procedures etc, can often be more than the cost of putting a criminal in prison for life.
The death penalty violates the "cruel and unusual" clause of the Bill of Rights.
It is simply immoral and barbaric to allow people to be killed by the state even if they have committed violent crimes.
The appeals and additional procedures required to deal with criminals that have been condemned to death fill up the US legal system which could be put to better use.
It can be viewed that, life in prison with little freedom and poor quality of life is a better punishment and deterrent to criminals than death row.
There is always the possibility that innocent men and women are put to death without ever having committed a crime. There will always be failings in the judicial and conviction system.
There will always be debate over whether capital punishment is an effective form of penalty for criminals for as long as it exists. A number of US states do not have the death penalty and instead use life imprisonment.
Sources:
Pro's and Con's of the Death Penalty-Deborah White, About.com
Should the death penalty be banned as a form of punishment? -Balanced Politics.org
Capital Punishment in the US-Wikipedia.com
The copyright of the article The Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty in American Affairs is owned by Patrick Hinton. Permission to republish The Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
i think that if you are a serial killer that should be the only time you
should go to death penalty because i think if any other crime is committed
they deserve to do crime but not die
Feb 16, 2009 1:15 AM
Guest :
It's right for a person who takes the life of 1000 people by bomb or other
means.
Feb 17, 2009 7:24 AM
Guest :
I think that it all depends on the crime that took place and how bad it
was.
Feb 18, 2009 9:28 PM
Guest :
no matter what the should always go to prison cause if i did a horrible
crime i rather die and get it other with than stay alive for 50 more years
thinking about
Feb 23, 2009 12:14 PM
Guest :
Technically, why should someone who violates someone else's rights retain
their own rights?
Mar 3, 2009 12:32 PM
Guest :
THE WORST CRIME SHOULD HAVE THE WORST PUNISHMENT.
Mar 12, 2009 12:21 PM
Guest :
an eye for an eye is super stupid! the only reason for a person to be on
death row, is if they have killed multiple times. even then yes its wrong,
but its the only way for things to be right. but you if you steal or rape
, then you should just spend time in prison. even if it does cost alot of
money for people to go to prison. would'nt you want to be safe then have
alot of money?
Mar 18, 2009 7:27 PM
Guest :
The long standing argument is that capital punishment does not serve as a
deterrent of crime. However, it is not meant to be. It is punishment for
the crimes committed. Look at Genesis 9:6 - "Whoever shed the blood of
man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made
man." Amen!
Mar 21, 2009 12:14 PM
Guest :
eye for an eye., two wrongs make a right. yeah. thats what we want to
teach people. HAH.! what does killing a killer teach people.?,
absolutly nothinggg. what if the person is actually innocent and they
dont find that out until after the person has been prosecuted.?, oh
well., its just one innocent.? NO. thats wrong., its going agaisnt
every reason why people want punishments for crime. it violates the
8th amendment., andd it costs more to execute a person than to keep them in
prison for life. ., its just wrong.
Apr 8, 2009 6:26 PM
Guest :
actually, i think it would be better to let them rot in jail for years. I
know i would rather like to be killed than to rot in jail for 80 years.
Apr 13, 2009 6:35 PM
Guest :
an eye for an eye will leave everyone blinded.. but go death penalty it
definitely provides closure for the victims families and is proven to be a
deterrent towards crime. it should be used more to intimidate little punks
into not making stupid choices.
Apr 14, 2009 1:49 PM
Guest :
no one should die becuse they killed som one i think a life in prisen
would sufise
Apr 14, 2009 1:49 PM
Guest :
no one should die becuse they killed som one i think a life in prisen
would sufise
Apr 27, 2009 10:53 AM
Guest :
for me... i would let the prisoners take their choices.... if they want to
die, kill them,if they want torture, torture them, if they want to live 50
years in prison just do what they want. give them the 3 wise chioces and if
the prisoner chooses 50 years and lived 1 year, and asks for death, then
give him the death! thats a fair way for states and the convict!
May 1, 2009 10:13 AM
Guest :
I believe if a person kills somebody the right thing to do is get back like
eye for an eye i always say.
May 6, 2009 5:16 AM
Guest :
Its right for anyone who violates the rights to life of anyone else
intentionally and maliciously. AN EYE FOR AN EYE
May 7, 2009 4:45 AM
Guest :
2 wrongs do not = a right. wrong+wrong doesn't = right
May 7, 2009 10:11 AM
Guest :
i think that they should die because, an eye for an eye and its
closure for their family
May 10, 2009 10:52 AM
Guest :
I dont believe we should use the death peanlty! An eye for an eye;; 2
wrongs dont make a right!! It costs way more to execute someone then
it does to keep them in prison.
May 11, 2009 9:18 AM
Guest :
I personally agree with the death penalty. If you have the mindset to kill
others, then maybe you should be killed. Of course, an eye for an eye, as
everyone else has been saying. Under no circumstances should someone be
sent to death unless they were responsible for the death or possibility of
death of another person. And only if it was intentional. Of course, quite a
few enjoy pulling the "too mental to know" card. Too mental my
bum.
May 26, 2009 10:20 AM
Guest :
Some say eye for an eye...but thats not how the death penalty should be
viewed... the death penalty was set to be a deterrent so others would not
have the mind to commit the crime...that is why people were set to watch
executions. This is still a good deterrent and becomming very humane and
should stay instated.
May 26, 2009 3:53 PM
Guest :
why should we have it all it brings is more grift for the munder's family
and doesn't solve anything
Jul 14, 2009 8:42 PM
Guest :
Your giving an easy way out if you kill the killer. If you put them in
prison for life at least they'll have to suffer through many years of
boring-ness until they eventually die..
Sep 10, 2009 8:52 AM
Guest :
The death penalty should only take place if someone has taken the life of
others
Sep 13, 2009 6:13 PM
Guest :
Okay people. Think. You just caught a mass murderer, and are deciding the
punishment. A: Put him in jail for the rest of his life, where there are
chances of PAROLE and ESCAPE where he might one again COMMIT A MURDER, or;
Choice B: Give him the death penalty and get a killer off the streets.
Quite frankly, I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Sep 24, 2009 11:57 PM
Guest :
i think that, the death penalty is alright for people, like adults, that
have comminted a seriouse crim like murder. i dont think children should be
in affect of the death penatly and i also dont think that rapist should be
exacuted.
Sep 25, 2009 12:03 AM
Guest :
i think that, the death penalty is alright for people, like adults, that
have comminted a seriouse crim like murder. i dont think children should be
in affect of the death penatly and i also dont think that rapist should be
exacuted.
Sep 30, 2009 8:24 AM
Guest :
I think that if you are Ted Bundy or Jeffery Dahmer that you should be put
to death, but if its killing like 2 people then that person should be in
jail until he dies. Putting someone to death for some stupid reason is not
right and should be done. It should only be for the bigger crimes.
Oct 2, 2009 7:54 AM
Guest :
i think if someone kills or rapes someone else they should be locked in a
jail sail and forgotten about and let them rot n die in there
Oct 2, 2009 7:54 AM
Guest :
i think if someone kills or rapes someone else they should be locked in a
jail sail and forgotten about and let them rot n die in there
Oct 18, 2009 7:53 PM
Guest :
I do agree with the death penalty, if someone murders an innocent person
they deserve to die too. But on the other hand I don't because it costs so
much and right now how do we even have the money to execute people??
Oct 23, 2009 10:40 AM
Guest :
people that kill and rape people should be put to death asap. not spend
years on death row and die of natural causes befor they get execute!
Oct 30, 2009 6:29 AM
Guest :
an eye for an eye that is wat all of us was tought right? to be fair......
why not do the same with this?
Oct 30, 2009 6:33 AM
Guest :
what if one of your family members was murdered..... would you want to get
them back or not do anything...... what would Jesus do?
Nov 3, 2009 9:13 AM
Guest :
I think that if you rape someone or something or become a huge serial
killer you should be punched in the face and put to death.
Nov 8, 2009 8:33 PM
Guest :
eye for an eye is stupid. if you kill somebody it still gives us no right
to prosecute you. its making us just as bad
Nov 9, 2009 7:48 AM
Guest :
I don't think anyone derserves the death penalty! It is cruel and barbaric
punishment no matter what why it is done. Even if you are a serial killer
because it would be better to keep them in jail for the rest of their lives
where they can't hurt anyone. Serial Killers as messed up a human being as
they maybe are still human beings with rights just like anybody else. Just
because they took another persons rights away by commiting a crime doesn't
make it right that they have all there rights taken away. Two wrongs do not
make a right- this is not math class it's a human life! It is also less
costly to keep them in jail for life then to kill them. It would also give
them time to reflect and think about what they have done so that they may
ask for forgiveness before they die naturally. If you kill them they won't
be able to do this. To me killing them gives them an easy way out where
they don't learn anything by it, the killers family members end up getting
hurt and someone else has now murdered which to me is just as bad as what
this person has done! Going through court costs and trials and what not can
make the victims feel like there the ones being punished. The victim(s)
won't benifit from this....it won't bring their loved ones back.
"THEIR IS NO CLOSER WITH THE DEATH PENALTY". It is true that if
you go by sayings like an eye for an eye that everyone would be walking
around with no eyes if we lived by that rule. I have found conclusive
evidence by researchers that "THE DEATH PENALTY-DOES NOT DETER" a
criminal from killing. In fact it may cause some places to occur more
criminal activity when the Death Penalty is introduced to a place that does
not have it! It has been proven that people that do some jail time do not
usually reoffend. Believe it or not criminals can change while in
jail/prison. To summerize this---It is never right to kill--. What about
self-defense you say or in times of war? It should be a last resort and if
there is another way to handle the situation then these options should be
considered first. When you think there is no other way...there is always
another way! I have found out that about 1 in 7 people on death row are
innocent. Can you imagine sitting on death row waiting to die knowing that
your innocent and other people know as well but because there is no proof
you will die! What if that was you?
Nov 25, 2009 9:55 AM
Guest :
the eye for an eye thing is not the proper way to go about deterring crime.
IF ANYTHING GOVERNMENT IS STOOPING DOWN TO A LOWER LEVEL AND ACTING LIKE
CHILDREN JUST TO GET EVEN! WERE ADULTS!
Nov 30, 2009 7:08 AM
Guest :
Hmm, after viewing the last few comments posted here I must say that my
opinion on the death penalty has been changed. By nature I am quite
vengeful, but I too have been researching the death penalty and also
spending time simply contemplating it. I've come to the conclusion that it
is not the proper solution. While seeing a man be killed as he has killed
may bring a savage satisfaction to the loved ones of his victims - and even
to people such as myself, who feel no mercy for those who murder and rape -
I can no longer condone the act, it tears at my heart. One evil does not
correct another. I doubt there can be a true solace for the family and
friends of murder victims, the loss is to great. Let the perpetrators have
their cell, I daresay it's a greater burden on them than death. The messiah
tought that we should not retaliate against those who harm us and He was
most correct (He is God, He knows what he's talking about). But I do not
feel that we can allow such individuals to roam freely. So let them be
found, and let them be sentenced, and let them be locked away where they
can do no more harm. For those who have lost a loved one, or perhaps loved
ones, you have my condolences. But if you wish to see the man who slew them
be slain himself I implore you, reconsider. No punishment administered can
bring life back to the dead. Atleast in prison the guilty may someday come
to feel remorse for their crimes and attempt to change themselves. It is a
small chance and it may not make you feel better about your loss (I doubt
very much that I even would find any comfort), but can anything truly heal
the wounds or your loss? If you would say that the death of the killer
would ease your heart then I will be so bold as to say that you never truly
loved the victim. To anyone who supports the death penalty I ask you to
think about it again. You may find yourself with a different outlook on the
act.
Nov 30, 2009 7:12 AM
Guest :
I believe that if someone committs an unspeakable crime they should get the
death penalty. Im a firm believer in the punishment fitting the crime.. In
some cases the lethal injection is nice compared to what the victims
families could do to the murderer!!
Jan 15, 2009
