death penalty

The death penalty has been a justifying punishment for thousands of years, giving criminals what they deserve. Some feel the death penalty is wrong and lives shall never be taken by someone else’s hand. However, it could be that some are stronger willed than others, and others are overcome with hate and revenge. People were frightened by criminals therefore creating a permanent punishment and solution. The first established death penalty laws dating back to the Eighteenth Century in the Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon, which was suitable for twenty five different crimes. In the Seventh Century, Draconian Code of Athens made death the only punishment for all crimes. Roman law of the Twelve Tablets, in the Fifth Century, deaths were carried out by means of crucifixion, drowning, beating to death, burning alive, and impalement. As of July 2011, the United States had 3,251 inmates on death row. Only 1.3% of death row inmates were executed that year; leaving more inmates imprisoned leading to a factor of our countries debt. The cost to house an inmate is approximately $17,340 a year, that’s 54,967,800 to house the inmates on death row alone. More than 15,000 prisoners are convicted murderers in state prisons that should be on death row. State prison housing costs up to $20,000 a year per inmate. Should a human get the rights he\she stripped their victims of, on top of it costing our country $300,000,000 to keep them alive? More prisoners means more prison budgets, which leads to higher taxes. 77% of a prisons population is released; 52 % return, which makes our country a more dangerous place to live.
If we executed those who have killed, our country would be safer and wealthier. However two wrongs don’t make a right. Killing a human convicted or not, is lowering down to their level and being looked at as their equal which makes our citizens feel guilty. Some believe that a prison is no longer a punishment but a rehabilitation center, hoping that one may come to ones senses and become a better individual. Arguing capital punishment, Amnesty International says, "The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice. It violates the right to life. It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. There can never be any justification for torture or for cruel treatment." Is it justifying revoking their right to live as they did their victims? The way people feel about the death penalty is what’s stopping states to enforce it completely.
Capital punishment was initially established to create peace among the people. Today, it has led to a major factor in the counties debt, a raise in taxes, an unsafe environment and moral issues; In addition, has raised controversy with the “right to life” Liberal groups and the “eye for and eye” theory of the conservative groups.