Citizens United For Alternatives To The Death Penalty

Even though it may be the simple way out, the death penalty is very cruel and inhumane. Back hundreds of years ago, the constitution states that everyone has a basic right to live and a freedom of speech. Whereas

The eighth Amendment states that the government is prohibited from cruel and unusual punishment. The death penalty is a complete violation of this amendment. Every one, guilty or innocent has the right to live freely, and the government taking away this simplicity of rights, is unconstitutional.

The American Civil Liberties Union believes the death penalty inherently violates the constitutional ban against cruel and unusual punishment and the guarantees of due process of law and of equal protection under the law. Furthermore, we believe that the state should not give itself the right to kill human beings – especially when it kills with premeditation and ceremony, in the name of the law or in the name of its people, and when it does so in an arbitrary and discriminatory fashion.

There is a better way to execute someone without the risk of killing hundreds of innocents, an example is life without parole, an example is Oregon there is the option of sentencing murderers to life in prison without parole. Every day people are executed by the state for a variety of crimes, sometimes for acts that should not be criminalized. Before people die they are imprisoned for years on death row, not knowing when their time is up, or if they will see their families one last time. Not only is capital punishment morally incorrect but it does not help the economy of the states. Enforcing the death penalty costs Florida $51 million a year above what it would cost to punish all first degree murderers with life in prison without parole. Another example is Texas, the average cost of death penalty is $2.3 million, three times the price payed to imprison someone for fourty years. (Death Penalty Information Centre). Currently the state of California is fighting to eliminate capital punishment with Proposition 62, the passing of this proposition could save the state $150 million per year. A death row sentence costs eighteen more than life in prison, all mosey that could be spent on education, public safety, and crime prevention. (Official Voter Information

Still today, the death penalty is a major controversy in numerous states all over the United States. It's hard to grasp the idea of putting another human to death. The death penalty is an execution style punishment which is usually used against criminal's who have committed a horrific crime. The are many arguments that the death penalty goes against the eighth amendment, which was struck down by the Supreme Court. I believe that the death penalty should be abolished everywhere in America. I think it should be abolished because it still isn't proven to deterrent future murders, it's used unfairly, and there is a risk of executing the innocent. The death penalty can be replaced with life in prison, suffering in prison for the rest of their

Throughout mankind has been using the death penalty as a form of punishment. Many people argue with this type of punishment because they believe in an eye for an eye. Many people that it is okay to murder a human being due to them having killed an individual over time. There have been many cases that have proven that they death penalty violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment, being very expensive, and innocent lives are convicted.

The drafting of the Eighth Amendment prohibits government officials from imposing cruel and unusual punishment against individuals. Opponents to the death penalty often describe their methods as cruel and barbaric; however; advocates tend to disagree. Several times during the past year; there have been botched executions. An article published by the Washington Post newspaper cites the flawed execution of Oklahoma death row inmate Clayton Lockett (Bever). The execution of Mr. Lockett by lethal injection was supposed to be quick and painless, but the event went horribly wrong (Bever). During the injection phase of the execution several of Mr. Lockett’s veins exploded (Bever). Without receiving

Many people are against capital punishment because they think that it is not humane and should not take a human life, most think that because of their religion and their god prohibits them from the taking of another’s life. When a person is about to be put to death there are many protesters on about what is about to happen, because they think it is not the best way to deal with things. I respect their opinions, but I think differently along with many others that think the same way; that the death penalty is effective and should continue to be. My opinion on this is that if your not ready for your life to be taken from you then don’t take a life yourself, as many would say “an eye for an eye” in this case is a life for a life but still the same meaning. I also don’t believe that the death penalty should be applied in many cases, only on the ones involving murder, rape or treason to this country. People might think that you don’t have a heart by thinking this way but what they don’t understand is that we don’t have room in this world for people like that, people that only cause harm to society and that have hurt the victims family, at least that’s what I believe. The one negative thing about the death penalty is that it is expensive, it cost more in the little time

The Capital Punishment was made so it would deter crime and further the future of the system, but not one has been met. “The death penalty fails to live up to a lot of conservative ideals,” said Marc Hyden, a coordinator with Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty, a group launched in 2013. “It’s not pro-life, it’s not limited-government, and it doesn’t deter crime.” ("Death Penalty." CQ Researcher by CQ Press. library.cqpress.com) The system is always going to have some flaws. Every law and person is different, for example if someone was found guilty but is truly innocent later on, it shouldn’t be possible that they would be dead because of the death penalty. Without question there are people who are not guilty that are in jail. As the Justice system is trying to keep people safe they are also trying to appease the people around them, In the end it could cost a life. “Innocent people are wrongly executed….. The sad thing about this, according to those who are opposed is that innocence is proven after the execution has been carried out.” ("List of 10 Biggest Death Penalty Pros and Cons." Green Garage. July 21, 2015.greengarageblog.org) For anyone to take another life, it’s horrendous! Then wouldn’t it be just as bad to take the killer’s life? You are turning into what you just killed. “Some jury members are reluctant to convict if it means putting

The death penalty is the pivot of much controversy within our society and government. Most people deem it a touchy subject, rarely making it a hot topic amongst general conversations. The issue usually raises many a blood pressure and may even have the tendency to end life-long friendships. The country is split on the issue and does not seem to find the desire to come to a compromise. While this is not true, this does not quiet the voices of people arguing for capital punishment. The issue of death penalty is wholly unconstitutional as it goes against our rights undoubtedly stated in the Constitution.

The issue of capital punishment is a difficult one and the opinions are as diverse as the people giving them. The death penalty exists in 38 states and those that have it spend enormous amounts of tax payer dollars to engage the justice system in what is a long and drawn out series of court dates and appeals that are lasting years. In addition, the trials and appeals of those on Death Row will have attorneys, prosecutors, experts and judges with more experience creating a major strain on the budget and manpower of the state. Nationally there is no study identifying the cost associated with the Death Penalty, but each state uses their state laws and pay scales in determining the cost of the Death Penalty. Prior to the Death Penalty being abolished New York has spent millions of dollars on Death Penalty cases and the result was there were no executions. Those in favor of the death penalty believe that the cost associated with incarcerating an individual for life will far outweigh those associated with the Death Penalty, due to old age, medical issues, food and other essentials needed to keep one alive. This would be true if the Death Penalty was a swift method of justice. The monies spent on Death Penalty cases could be far better spent on local budgets and programs that are evidenced based and proven to provide needed services, such as law enforcement, drug treatment and youth programs.

The country has spent billions already on executions of around 120 a year. The extensive money we spend on a practice that insufficient and hardly impacts society in a positive matter is the reasoning why capital punishment should be abolished. It has done more harm than good in society, tearing this country into two by having conflicting debates about the execution of a human. Time and money that can be spent on the production of good in America. Capital punishment doesn’t affect society in the matter it is attended too and because of its inefficiency, the abolishment of capital punishment is a resolution America should lead towards. Citizens should push for the highest capital punishment to be lifetime in prison. It is a reliable alternative rather than killing a human’s life, they can die of natural age. It’s human to keep them living until they die off naturally and doesn’t condemn them to death. As a nation, Americans should vote for candidates that oppose the death penalty and support them in order to have change in

The American Civil Liberties Union considers the death sentence to violate the legal prohibition against harsh and infrequent punishment integrally. Likewise, we believe

America is the only free, democratic country where death penalty exist. The system should be abolished because one wrong evidence can cause a life. Life term in prison may not be an ideal punishment for some criminal, but it the best solution and still constitutional. Some people may feel the death penalty is cruel and robbed the right to life also violate the Constitution. The oldest prison inmate was seventy-four years old before he was executed, but he lived thirty-six years in prison. He got the punishment he deserved and he had the right to life. Life term in prison may not be the ideal right to life any person would want, but it is the least any criminals on death row could ask to receive. A person who committed a crime should not be judged by their mistake and be buried with it

A historical moment in United States history was shortly after the “so called,” “Boston Massacre. Many British soldiers were being accused of murder; but one Patriot, John Adams, who would one day become our second President, asserted that everyone deserves a fair trial. There was no killing. Only trials, observation, and questions. Our country states that everyone deserves the right to a trial, and not automatic death. The theory of capital punishment, or as most of you call it, the death penalty, is a violent way to sort out the criminals of an event. Capital punishment is a serious issue, and most of United States is on it. In fact, it is on the 2016 Presidential ballot, whether it should remain or be abolished. To inform people, capital punishment is a government practice where a person is put to death for a crime they committed. These capital offences are of serious issue, but should it really determine whether a person is allowed to live? No! I am an opponent for the death penalty being used anywhere in the world.