The Pros And Cons Of Lethal Punishment

In this paper I will be discussing everything you need to know about the death penalty such as its pros and cons. While the innocent can be killed, the death penalty has its pros because it prevents them from killing again if they are released or have escaped from prison, it helps overpopulated prisons, and it can help victims’ families get justice and closure. Not only can the innocent be killed, but in the past the death penalty was very inhumane. To some its feels right but to others they feel like 2 wrongs don’t make a right. Most people think that the defendant deserves the death penalty, but what does the defendants’ family think?

Lethal injections have been around for many years with the same basic idea and procedure. Lethal injection uses three drugs, a fast acting barbiturate that sedates the inmate and the drug Tubocurarine that paralyzes the inmate, and finally potassium chloride is used to stop his heart. These methods have been a controversial issue for many reasons. People that supports lethal injection believes that it is more humane method of execution than any other because it cause little or no pain. It also argued that it is less expensive than detaining or placing someone in jail for life. As far as lethal injection been unconstitutional because the procedure causes unusual pain and suffering, some people believe that someone who has kill countless people deserve to physical

The first medicine given to the inmate who is receiving the lethal injection is called barbiturate anesthetic sodium thiopental (Hooper). This drug is mixed into a liquid form and it is generally prepared by prison staff (Hooper). Because of this drug variability, doctors have stated that they are sure inmates have suffered (Hooper).

) Moreover, the pattern of this kind of murderer, the killer, is almost by definition a person who takes his chances like the soldier of fortune he thinks he is. (37) Most killers do not engage in anything like a cost-benefit analysis. They are impulsive, and they kill impulsively. If capital punishment does deter criminals, it can do so only indirectly. Potential murderers must have some standard of right and wrong. They must acknowledge morals issues. They must be without mental illness and they know and have the capacity to think about what they are doing. This conception of general deterrence seems deeply flawed because it rests upon a doubtful conception of how this murderous population internalizes social norms. Although the perpetrator

Lethal injection is the practice of killing a death row inmate by using a lethal dose of drugs, however, the many problems with lethal injection include it not resulting in an immediate death, the lack of available drugs, and complaints from inmates. In fact, executions using lethal injection have lasted over 20 minutes, with the inmate moaning, convulsing, and gasping for air. A federal judge in Mississippi blocked lethal injection executions after 2 death row prisoners claimed it to be "chemical torture." Also, lawyers of death row prisoners in Tennessee argued that lethal injection is unconstitutional because of the horrendous and painful deaths that results from this method of execution. On the other hand, the Supreme Court ruled that "the Constitution does not require the avoidance of all risk of pain." The opposition argues that there is no right or wrong way to execute death row prisoners, whether or not lethal injection is humane, these prisoners are going to and should be executed for the crimes they have committed. In this case, the most sense would to be to choose the cheapest and most effective method of execution, which is not lethal injection. Drugs can no longer be purchased from European drug makers but now have to be purchased from American pharmacists where these specific drugs are not subject to the Food and Drug Administration. These pharmacists are also displeased with trade

Lethal injection was first adopted in 1977 in the state of Oklahoma and was first administrated in the state of Texas in 1982 (Crider, 2014). Before lethal injection methods like hanging, gas chamber, firing squad, and electric chair were used to execute. The United States has tried to find an alternate method that will not be considered inhumane and painful to the inmate. The effect of lethal injection is now being questioned if it is constitutional, arises medical professionals controversy, and the shortage of drug substance.

The death penalty has been battered backwards and forwards by the questions of abolishment and replacement, with mixed results. There seems to a jagged line in the sand on where people stand, and due to the continuous use today (albeit at a slower clip than in the past), it is still very much a prevalent topic of punishment. Those who argue for it believe that taking it away will take away a great deterrent, that families find peace, and that those who commit egregious crimes deserve only death. Anything less “would fail to do justice because the penalty – presumably a long period in prison – would be grossly disproportionate to the heinousness of the crime” (“Top 10 Pro & Con Arguments,” 2016). Those who don’t believe in this punishment as a modern-day, useful tool of deterrence and punishment for crime, continuously counter these arguments, as well as any others, daily at every turn. Though many states have made it illegal, others placing moratoriums or refusals to use it, the death penalty can still be found active today. But why can’t it be replaced with life without parole, and it if can why should it?

Death is something that a lot of people think about, but do people think about the Death Penalty? Having been given the death penalty means that someone is going to be put to death by a lethal injection or an electric chair; There are more ways, but the injection and the electric chair are the most used. There are many different opinions surrounding the idea of death penalties; which some people think the death penalty should be used more and some believe the complete opposite.

The three-drug sequence used today in lethal injections was developed almost three decades ago and then, over the following two decades, was adopted by all but one of the death penalty states. The first drug, sodium thiopental, is a fast-acting sedative that induces a deep, coma-like unconsciousness. The second drug, pancuronium bromide, is a paralytic agent that inhibits all muscular-skeletal movements and stops respiration. Potassium chloride, the third drug, interferes with the electrical signals that cause contractions of the heart, inducing cardiac arrest [1.].

The death penalty has been debated for centuries. Within just America, it dates back all the way to 1608. In an article entitled “History of the Death Penalty” from the website Death Penalty Information Center, it states, “The first recorded execution in the new colonies was that of Captain George Kendall in the Jamestown colony of Virginia in 1608. Kendall was executed for being a spy for Spain.” So, it is safe to say that the death penalty has been around for a long time, and has been debated by many for just as long. Most people will claim that they are against the death penalty with no reason other than they believe it is immoral and wrong. Those people simply do not know the facts of how the death penalty actually helps the American Justice System. The death penalty prevents overcrowding in prisons, reoffenders, and is cheaper to the taxpayers.

Throughout the process of a lethal injection, there are many drugs inserted into the prisoner. Before the drugs are administered, the prisoner is first brought into a room, that looks very much like a hospital room, with all the medical equipment inside. Within the room, there is a cardiac monitor, and other medical items. The inmate is then strapped to trolley, much like the one below: And hooked up

This procedure uses resources, and has multiple requirements. Too many tangibles are wasted just to kill one person for a crime. Six people are in the death chamber other than the defendant. The executioner, medical doctor, physician’s assistant, and three security personnel(LIP). Also, There are a lot of drugs that are used to execute the execution. “Pancuronium Brominde[Pavulon] is a muscle relaxant mainly used as an adjuvant to anaesthesia during surgical operations, assisted ventilation and orthopaedic manipulation. Sodium thiopental(11)[Pentothal] is a barbiturate which includes general anaesthesia when administered intravenously and is also used in hypnosis. Potassium chloride(17).This salt is usually toxic if given intravenously at levels above 20 milliequivalents/hour and can affect the heart among other organs (The medical basis for lethal injection).” Using this many drugs to put down one person just seems like a waist, when there are much quicker, and less time consuming ways to kill people. Also, why would an execution need five people to supervise? When killing an inmate, most states do it the exact same way. It begins with the security personnel ties the inmate down to the gurney and connects him to the electrocardiogram. This machine monitors heart

The process of lethal injection that has always been used in the United States is that Sodium Thiopental is first put into the patient to put the inmate to sleep and then pancuronium bromide is used to paralyze muscle function and to stop the inmate’s breathing and finally potassium chloride is used to stop the inmate’s heart. They typically use this method of 3 different drugs so that if someone is allergic to one of the ingredients of one of the drugs that they can easily switch one of the drugs out for a drug without the ingredient that they are allergic to that serves the same purpose. Though this method has been used for over 30 years recent research has found that sometimes the anesthesia does not come into effect and many times the inmate is sitting there convulsing and feeling extreme pain and possibly experiencing asphyxiation, burning sensations. According

Lethal injection causes “cardiopulmonary cessation” damaging the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and other internal organs. Lethal injection is used as primary method of execution in all 33 states where a death penalty is allowed

My next reason is that it could be considered a cruel and unusual punishment, and it can be considered one, everyone has free will and can think what they want. There are 4 things to look for when deciding whether it is a cruel and unusual punishment though. The first of the four is the question “Is it degrading to human dignity”? To answer that, first let’s look a the three different lethal injections. 1. Sodium Thiopental, this one will put the inmate to sleep within 30 seconds. 2. Pancuronium Bromide,