"Not the physical act, but the social meaning of murder distinguishes robbery from taxation, murder from execution, a gift from theft" (Leone 233). This quote defines the exact reason why capital punishment is an ethical form of justice. Although capital punishment may seem like an unfair form of justice, it is actually the most logical way to punish criminals who commit the most serious of serious offenses. It serves as an effective deterrent and provides an excellent form of retribution. If used in the right way, capital punishment would be more cost efficient and effective than life in prison. Capital punishment has been in use in the United States since the beginning of its history. Among the first to be put to death from crimes in the colonies were the so-called witches. The best known was the Salem Witch Trials, where a total of twenty witches had been sentenced to die by the time the trials were over. Through most of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries there was much discussion over capital punishment. In the eighteenth century several hundred offenses were punishable by death, but in the late 1880's the government restricted the number of crimes punishable bye death to three: treason, murder and rape. Between 1880 and 1917 there was much flip-flopping in many states over capital punishment. From 1977 to 1995there have been 300 executions in the United States. As of 1995 only twelve states did not have the death penalty. These days the argument is over the electric chair, and whether or not it is constitutional. Just recently the Supreme Court ruled it constitutional. Bryan Stevenson said: "This will continue to be an issue that plagues the administration in capital cases until the method of execution has changed" ("High Court"). Even the nations of the world have had the death penalty for long periods of time, even if they are abolished today. Ninety-six nations currently enforce the death penalty or have carried out executions during the past ten years (Gottfried 12-24).
I believe in capital punishment, it is beneficial for society as a whole. Capital punishment provides a strong deterrence against future crimes. Capital punishment protects the rights of victims and saves costs of tax payers. ... Capital punishment does act as a deterrent. ... Capital punishment is not cruel. ...
Capital punishment should be abolished. ... In the past, capital punishment had solely been used in the South. ... 3 Another aspect of cost that bothers me can be summed up in a saying I heard a while ago. "He without the capital gets the punishment."" ... This causes a flaw in the "system- where nobody can be absolutely positive on every inmate's guilt. 5 When people bring race into the issue of capital punishment, I believe they are a little out of line. ...
Many other documents that supported capital punishment were also created, for example, the Old Testament. ... Capital Punishment has existed in the United States since the founding of the original colonies. ... With the knowledge of the background of capital punishment, one is now fully aware of how far the process has come and is able to look at the different aspects that are extremely controversial. ... "[There is] strong evidence for the deterrent effect of capital punishment... ... The next aspect one should look at when examining if capital punishment should be kept in place is the bibli...
Is capital punishment fair? ... Capital punishment should be abolished in the United States. ... (Durham's) Capital punishment is supposed to be for the protection of society, and for the reformation of the wrongdoers. ... Capital punishment is a notorious failure in these aspects. ... If capital punishment were carried out more it would prove to be the crime deterrent it was partly intended. ...
Some people say that Capital Punishment has killed more blacks then whites and more poor then rich. ... However, some positive steps have been taken. ... Capital Punishment should protect the innocent and serve justice. ... From 1972 to 1977 capital punishment was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. ... Capital Punishment is immoral in principle, and unfair. ...
(Page 73 The Death Penalty, Opposing Viewpoints) Daniel Lazare in his essay "Your Constitution Is Killing You," describes the positive and negative aspects of this question raised by abolitionists, and confirms the fact that it is not unconstitutional nor cruel or unusual. Thus there would be no need to dismiss capital punishment. ... Those in favor of capital punishment attribute this to the number of executions. However, proponents seem to ignore the fact that the murder rate in states that do not enforce capital punishment has remained "consistently lower than the states with" capital p...
Capital Punishment - Death Penalty INTRODUCTION It is true that the punishment of the crimes committed everyday should fit the crime, but to what extent? ... ON-GOING DEBATE Pro's The constantly changing views on this difficult issue led Supreme Court to abolish Capital Punishment in 1972. ... In some aspects, Capital Punishment goes against the eight amendment which forbids cruel and unusual punishment. ... WASHINGTON STATE & CAPITAL PUNISHMENT In Washington State the current death penalty was enacted in 1975. ... Capital Punishment is a very important part in today's so...
Capital punishment provides the only penalty for murder that is proportionate to the crime committed. ... Crime, criminals, and the overall aspect of the criminal justice system have always been intriguing and debatably controversial. ... Does capital punishment deter crime? ... I personally believe in the favoring life-imprisonment over capital punishment. ... Everyone has their own opinion as to whether they are for or against capital punishment. ...
