Persuasive Essay On Capital Punishment

Out of the 50 states, 26 of them have had at least one death row execution. American people (approximately 65%) say that they are still strong supporters in the Death Penalty. That is over half of the American population, for the Death Penalty. One may argue that it is a horrible way of giving people what they deserve; however, those people may not see the mistakes these people have made, making them not agree with this act. As this may be a contradiction, capital punishments is one of the life learning punishments known. It is legal in many states, but that doesn’t make it fair to all because its blameful, the cost is outrageous, and it’s time that needs to be spent helping, instead of killing.

If someone committed a crime so harsh, and inhumane do you believe that they should be put to death? The death penalty, also known as capital punishment is defined as “punishment by death for a crime; death penalty.” (Dictionary.com). The first recorded execution in the United States English American colonies was in 1608 (Reggio). There are multiple execution methods such as; beheading, crucifixion, poisoning, hanging, and electrocuting. Currently, as of 2017 capital punishment is legal in 32 out of 50 States in the United States (CNN). This paper will be discussing the benefits and disadvantages of the death penalty currently in the United States.

“Between 1930 and 2010, 5,093 people were executed in the United States. As of 2010, 35 states and the federal government authorize capital punishment” (Source #2). The death penalty has been brought to court many times. Today most states believe that lethal injection is the most humane method of execution, but some states still have the firing squad, hanging, gas chambers, and electrocution. “All jurisdictions provide for execution by lethal injections. 16 jurisdictions provide for alternative methods of execution, contingent upon the choice of the inmate, the date of the execution or sentence, or the possibility of the method being held unconstitutional”(Source

Lethal injection, electric chair, firing squad, gas, hanging, you name it, these are all the variations that states use to condemn their prisoners. The death penalty has been, ironically, alive since the 1600s, massacring thousands. A debate that has been ongoing brings the question today, should capital punishment be banned? or should it continue? The truth lies in the fact that injustice cannot be solved by inequity.

Crime in America is something that has been around for many decades. While a large number of crimes are considered minor, many more result in the serious injury or death of another human being. “When we think about crimes, we … normally focus on inherently wrongful acts that harm or threaten to harm persons or property” (Bibas 22). The death penalty, also called capital punishment, has been used as a means of punishing the most violent of criminals in an attempt to prevent others from committing similar crimes. Over the centuries, the methods used to conduct these executions have evolved and changed due to effectiveness and public opinion.

Capital punishment has been around for many years as a way of executing criminals. Despite what most believe, capital punishment is not functional in the American society. Defenders of the death penalty often claim that the execution of criminals will teach others not to do bad, initially decreasing crime rates. Unfortunately, statistics prove that thought to be wrong. Capital punishment also has great flaws. For example, many innocent people have been put to death because of capital punishment. There also is no consistency. Two of the same crimes can be convicted in two different states and the consequences with be different for both offenders. The death penalty shows to be

I have recently viewed your thought-provoking article about the use of capital punishment and believe that both your arguments and the principles you support are tenuous. Finding someone with views vastly different from my own is rather startling, so by analysing the indifferent conclusions you have discussed in your writing I am hopeful I will present a strong counter-argument to the questionable ideas you strongly believe in.

Capital punishment in the United States is a widely debated topic due to the many opposing views of abolitionists, people who want the death penalty abolished. The controversy led to continuous changes in the legalization of the death penalty in the late 1900’s. As noted by Wesley Lowe, a popular Retentionist and author of “The Death Penalty in the United States,” capital punishment was terminated in 1967, but reinstated in 1977. However, state-sanctioned executions are only authorized for certain heinous crimes and must be implemented in the least barbaric ways. According to Tracy Snell, Bureau of Justice Statistician, this type of punishment is only used for certain acts of violence, such as first-degree murder; and it is performed in various ways, including lethal injection and electrocution (5-6). The death sentence still remains in effect today in 31states and receives support from 60% of the United states people (Wikipedia Contributors). These people who support the death penalty, also known as Retentionists, provide indisputable arguments, and refute the opposing views. Capital punishment in the United States is necessary because it provides an equitable punishment, while ensuring the safety of citizens and honoring the lives of the victims.

Seventeen, that is how many death row inmates have died in 2017 as of August 25th (“Executions by Year”, 2017). Capital punishment has long been a controversial topic that sparks firing debates regarding ethics, morals, and justice with strongly divided opinions. The penalty is actually simplistic, truly black and white. Capital punishment is socially accepted murder with democracy playing executioner and without this atrocious sentence, society would be better.

committing a crime. As a society, we have the upmost interest in preventing murder, so we use the strongest punishment available to deter this crime, and that is the death penalty. The U.S. ranked fifth in the world in capital punishment, alongside China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq (Merino, 2015). Our society seeks to be good, defined as moral, upright, wholesome, and virtuous. None of these terms are associated with capital punishment, and we should abolish capital punishment for several reason. (U.S. News & World Report Weekly).

The definition of capital punishment is the legal killing to punish someone who has committed a crime. For certain crimes like murder, the death penalty is enforced. The death penalty should never be used because innocent people could be killed.

I chose this topic because capital punishment is very controversial. On one hand, the criminal is being severed the punishment he or she served on someone else or he or she served on numerous other people. On the other hand, the criminal is confined to prison for the remainder of his or her life. It truly comes down to death or life in prison. I support the death penalty and it aligns with my beliefs and moral compass. With a law enforcement and military background, the general public is not exposed and has not witnessed the true evil that a human being can inflict on another person. Until someone interviews and sits down face to face with such a callous criminal, who has no regard or concern for human life, it could be hard for them to understand how the death penalty could be fitting for certain crimes. Criminals thrive on control and when they sentenced to death, that control is completely taken away. Another reason why I support the death penalty has to do with the fact that a criminal could receive a presidential pardon. For example, a criminal that is sentenced to life in prison and after serving twenty to thirty years could be released by a sitting president who is about to leave office. This power of pardon does not have to any basis of the criminal’s innocents or reason. Therefore, in my opinion, justice has not been served.

“Thou shall not kill” is a commandment that many know but also that many do not follow. Killings are happening every day all over the world in many forms regardless of moral beliefs or lack of them. Abortions, euthanasia, war, and senseless acts of violence are some major ways that killing is occurring and causing moral conflicts. Another major moral conflict of killing is over capital punishment. Killing is wrong and most people would agree but many people recognize certain exceptions in which killing is acceptable. Those who agree with the philosophical theory, Consequentialism, would think that it is beneficial to have capital punishment. Although, many argue that killing is wrong, yet, capital punishment is being still being used. The question arises, to what extent is an act of killing wrong or right. The answer varies between many with their own opinions.

Capital punishment in the United States continues to be used even with all its controversy over the effectiveness as a deterrent to violent crimes. Capital punishment is punishment handed down by the court which involves the legal execution of a person who has committed a serious crime such as murder and has been sentenced to death under the court of law as mentioned in the book, “Criminal Justice in Action the Core.” Death sentences and executions for women offenders are also rare in comparison to male offenders. According to Death Penalty Information Center says that on September 30, 2015, Kelly Gissendaner, in Georgia was the last female executed for arranging to have her boyfriend kill her husband. The boyfriend received a life sentence in exchange for testifying against her (“women”). Kelly children pleaded for compassion, saying they had forgiven her and did not want to lose their mother. Several of her former prison inmates said that Kelly had given them the courage to turn their lives around. Pleas for clemency also came from people like Pope Francis, a former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice, and the former Deputy Director of the state Corrections Department (“Women”). Before the modern era of the United States death penalty beginning in 1976, “the last female offender executed was Elizabeth Ann Duncan by California on August 8, 1962” (“Women”). Nonetheless, capital punishment continues to be carried out under the law that society has deemed the death penalty as

The United States will not conform to the amendments as provided in the United States Constitution or provide the process for all of its citizens when they are in trial. The harsh penalizations through the use of Capital Punishment should not be utilized in our judicial system. For the past 50-years, there have been questions asked about one issue that we just cannot get on board with. The idea of killing citizens had started to weigh heavily on the conscience of humans. The debate on whether capital punishment should be a penalty or not for those convicted of capital offenses remains one of the most controversial issues in our country. This debate has stemmed from whether capital punishment is a violation of the eighth amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Eighth amendment states “excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted (amend. XIII, sec.3).” This amendment entails that no inhumane, excessive, or unusual punishments should be inflicted upon a person as a penalty of the violation of law (amend. XIII, sec. 3). This amendment questions the issues of The Death Penalty; it is used less over the years, so why do we keep it around as a safety net, and so-called “Deterrent,” or to satisfy our own the idea of justice for the people (Alfano). Another factor that has stimulated around the debate about capital punishment is the number of wrongful convictions of those subjected to capital punishment. According to