Capital Punishment
Murderers deserve capital punishment! Throughout the years capital punishment has been a much debated subject. There are those who oppose it and those who favor it. Our textbook defines capital punishment as "The death penalty" (Schmalleger, 2003, p.406). Capital punishment is recognized by many as the ultimate penalty. Persons who receive the death penalty will, more than likely, have committed a terrible crime like murder.
The death penalty has been around for many centuries, it dates back to before 200 B.C. with the Athenian society. Throughout the Roman empire criminals and outcasts were crucified or killed by throwing stones at them. In the Dark Ages 426 A.D., executions were institutionalized through the use of ordeals designed to both judge and punish. By the early 1890s, electrocution had replaced hanging as the dominant form of capital punishment. Between 1930 and 1967, when the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a nationwide stay of pending executions, nearly 3,800 people were put to death. Substantially fewer persons (66) were executed in 2001. (Schmalleger, 2003, p.406). The number of people being executed may have gone down but it is still happening.
Why do people favor capital punishment? Many favor it because they believe it will make someone think twice before actually committing a crime. Others feel that unless the criminal is put to death he or she will still have a chance to commit another crime. However, this is not my belief. I oppose capital punishment because I feel it is morally wrong. How can killing someone for killing be right? After all are we not doing the same? The reason I oppose capital punishment is based on my catholic background. A second reason would be my personal believe that everyone deserves a second chance.
"Capital punishment protects public safety much more effectively than does life in prison without parole. Convicts serving life sentences can still kill guards and other inmates. Moreover, convicts who...
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