Capital Punishment Essay: The Death Penalty In The United States

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. ”(Mahatma Gandhi) The Death penalty was utilized as an approach to free themselves from jeopardous crimes, yet was later optically observed as a lawful offense against human rights. The controversy on whether or not capital punishment is justified is still raging on this day. The U.S. is failing to realize that they are violating our human rights because they refuse to abolish the death penalty which contravenes a person 's right to life, it is not fair and there is nothing to truly gain from it.

Punishments for severe crimes around the world have been a subject of debate for many years. Different countries have varying views on what punishments are too extreme. The legality of certain forms of punishment is continually evolving in today's age. With the determination of constitutionality, a complex and evolving issue there are many debates around what constitutes cruel and unusual punishments. Despite ongoing controversies and discussions, punishments for serious crimes, including capital punishment, remain legal in some countries and continue to be imposed.

The United States remains in the minority of nations in the world that still uses death as penalty for certain crimes. Capital punishment is seen by many as barbaric and against American values, while others see it as a very important tool in fighting violent pre-meditated murder. One of the supporters of the Death penalty was a man named Walter Berns (a professor of American constitutional law and political philosophy.) He wrote clearly about his view on the death penalty in his Crime and Delinquency article, “Defending the Death Penalty.” He argued that the “Opposition to capital punishment is a modern phenomenon, a product of modern sentiment and modern thought” (p. 504) and with the help of historical references and logical reasoning throughout

This is definitely the best definition of justice that has ever existed or ever will exist. Listed above are some reasons found that America should oppose the death penalty alongside of personal views on summarizing what the information means, this should be an eye opener for many. First, to speak

There are numerous ways to punish people who are a threat to society without executing them. No matter which way the death penalty is carried out, be it lethal injection, lethal gas, electrocution, hanging, or firing squad, the executioner is always implicated. Bryan Stevenson, a social justice activist, questions, “If it’s not right to torture someone for torture, abuse someone for abuse, rape someone for rape, then how can we think we can kill someone for killing?” (“Delaney” 1). Although executioners are permitted to kill, they are still killing another human being.

Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is a legal process in which a person is put to death as a punishment for a crime by the government of a nation. The United States is in the minority group of nations that uses the death penalty. There are thirty-three states that allow capital punishment and seventeen states that abolished it (Death Penalty Information Center). The morality of the death penalty has been debated for many years. Some people want capital punishment to be abolished due to how it can cost a lot more than life imprisonment without parole, how they think it is immoral to kill, and how innocent people can be put to death.

The topic of capital punishment presents a test of values. The arguments in support of and opposition to the death penalty are complex. In the end, this is a question of an individual’s values and morals. The topic requires careful thought to reach a reasoned position. Both sides of the argument are defensible.

The jury stares at the criminal from across the room. They are coming up with the final verdict that will change the criminal’s life forever. What if you had the power in your hands to decide whether the criminal is going to have a life that will change, or no life at all? Capital punishment has been a political debate for years because people argue whether or not the punishment is humane or if it deters crime. I believe the death penalty should be continued because it deters crime, and serves proper justice for the victims, as well as their families.

Capital Punishment: An American Controversy The death penalty is an issue that has the United States quite divided. While there are many supporters of it, there are many who oppose to the ideal of putting a criminal to death. As of right now, there are thirty-three states in which the death penalty is legal and seventeen states that have abolished it. Although the opponents of capital punishment believe this to be immoral and non-productive, advocates of capital punishment have proven it costs the government less as opposed to life imprisonment without parole and the death penalty gives closure to the victim 's families who have suffered so much.

The Death Penalty, loss of life due to previous crimes and actions, is believed by some to be extremely costly, inhumane, and cruel unlike some others whom believe it is just, right, and provides closure. The Death Penalty is not a quick and easy process. Most who get sentenced to deaths row wait years for their ultimate punishment of death. Some believe that it is not right to punish and kill a human for actions they have done because, they believe that the inmate should have another chance. Then others believe that it is right to punish someone for their actions especially if their actions involve killing another or multiple humans.

Aside from the fact that capital punishment may be an unfair punishment at times, not only does it gives the culprit no chances for rehabilitation, but can also be a miscarriage of justice; if someone were to be found innocent after having been executed, there 's no way to bring the person back meaning they have been killed because of human error. Sometimes the execution may go wrong and take longer than expected. The problem with killing a criminal is we never know if the methods used today caused him/her pain. If a person deserves to be harshly punished, imprisonment may be the answer. Say a murdering pedophile was incarcerated, considering a vast number of his inmates were abused as children, it isn 't unheard of for them to gang-rape, castrate, stab, beat to death or behead him.

The death penalty debate constitutes a contentious issue that has elicited mixed reactions across the global context. While law enforcement systems around the globe and specifically the United States have embraced this approach to punishment of prime offences, civil rights and religious groups have cited ethical and religious issues emanating from the use of this approach. The two groups have considered this issue highly contentious and requiring redress to ensure fairness and conformity to the human rights standards within the global context. The findings by Levinson, Smith, & Young (2014, p.513) noted that while various groups are opposed to the use of death penalty in punishment of capital offenses, the would-be criminals and offenders

(Snell). Seeing how few people are being executed, it shows little success in bringing justice to families and friends. The death penalty is not an option to send someone's life to death,

Death has always been needed to maintain criminals, and to keep a sense of fear in the air for criminals that wanted to attempt murder or any other crimes punishable by death. Without this sense of fear, criminals would perform crimes without the worry of punishment. That is why punishment of death has been used throughout history so often.

The death penalty also known as capital punishment is the legal punishment issued for specific (capital) crimes and in this case, the punishment is death. A death sentence, in most cases is issued by a judicial system while the actualization or full enforcement of such decree is known as execution. 58 Nations currently endorse the death penalty while 98 nations has retracted its use. This report creates an argumentative view for and against the use of capital punishment. ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT (THE DEATH PENALTY)