She tries to relate to and get the attention of the readers who agree with the death penalty by saying for example, "the death penalty would act as a deterrent by eliminating recidivism." However, she goes right back to the opposing side of the death penalty by saying "I don't believe that deterrence is what most propenents seek from death penalty anyhow." She tries to capture all of her audience's attention by supporting both sides of the argument with examples of what she thinks is advantageous in both. Quindlen tries to relate to the opposing side of the death penalty by saying that "I think the killing of one human being as punishment for the killing of another makes no sense and inherently immoral." She also expresses how there is nothing anyone could do that is bad enough to replace the pain a parent has go through in losing a 6-year-old boy; not lethal injection or even the electric chair. In expressing her own opinions and giving examples to support them, Quindlen makes such a strong argument that it almost makes me want to re-examine my own opinions on the death…
The death penalty is an extremely vital way of the criminal justice system. The punishment of death can help decrease crime rates. Also, this way of death can lessen the amount of criminals and give families closure. It gives closure because, the families now know that this person will never be able to hurt them or anyone else ever again. The death penalty is a very good way to end many troubles within the U.S.…
Some people might agree with the death penalty. Families get devastated when someone they love and care about has died. Its different when that person they care so much about has been murdered or killed. People tend to hate that person and have the urge to do just about anything to them in order for them to suffer, which causes us to take, revenge on them. This matter has lead to the death penalty. This is a punishment that slowly kills the man or woman that has committed the crime. Why should we have pity on those who choose to kill? If they felt powerful enough to kill, then we should be able to do the same to them. Whatever their reason is that they choose to kill they should be punished someway, somehow.…
Civil rights activists Rosa Parks was born, Rosa McCauley on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her maternal grandparents, Rose and Sylvester Edwards, were former slaves. Her mother, Leona Edwards, was a teacher, and her father, James McCauley, was a carpenter, bricklayer, and stone man. Rosa was the first of two children. Rosa’s parents had different reasons for wanting to live in Tuskegee.…
Capital punishment is the ultimate sentence administered by the government for committing dangerous offenses. The word “capital” derives from the Latin word “capitalis,” meaning “of the head.” Original instances of capital punishment included beheading and hanging, leading to the use of word “capital” today. Through history, communities have considered some types of crimes so terrifying that the death penalty has been enacted for them. Over time, changing moralistic values and notions on government authority have limited the number and sorts of crimes considered worthy of death. Many countries have eliminated capital punishment totally, dismissing it as an inhumane reaction to criminal…
The death penalty has been an ongoing debate on whether it should be allowed or whether it violates our constitutional right. While most developed Western nations have stopped executing the United States continues to execute offenders (Zimring 2004). From 1977 through 2008 1,136 people have been executed, which consisted of people who committed murder (Procon 2010). Those who are in favor of the death penalty believe it is an important tool to help deter crime and it cost less than life imprisonment (Procon 2010). They believe retribution helps console the grieving family and it also ensures that the offender will never be able to commit another heinous crime (Procon 2010). According to Grant (2004) some people believe that some offenders should face the death penalty because of vengeance and retribution for violent crimes. During the…
The purpose of the death penalty is to allow states the right to punish criminals with the highest possible punishment, death. People argue that it is morally wrong for the death penalty to exist, because it allows people to “play God.” Others believe that it helps protect our country from criminals and save lives. Due to this controversy, the death penalty has became a major source of debate in the United States.…
The death penalty has been a criminal sentence imposed in America for hundreds of years, but it have been extremely controversial as Evan Mandery illustrates in “A Wild Justice: The Death and Resurrection of Capital Punishment in America.” Today, the death sentence is strictly used in murder cases and in thirty-two out of the fifty states in America. In these states, it is completely legal to use the ultimate punishment of death to incapacitate a criminal from committing any further harm to society. Throughout American history, many individuals have supported the death penalty because they believe it is an effective way to deter crime and is a form of retribution. Others have strongly advocated against capital punishment because it is not morally correct and it not applied fairly. Also, some argue that it is unconstitutional to use the death penalty because it violates the cruel and unusual punishment provision of the Eight Amendment written in the United States Constitution.…
The death penalty is an extremely controversial topic in America, and people usually shy away from it, but speaking about controversial topics can help us come close to actually find solutions. This exercise was conducted in my survey of law class in which, we had gone over several homicide cases in which the criminal received the death penalty. In the end of the lesson, our teacher asked a simple question “raise your hand if you believe in the death penalty”. I was appalled to see that more than half believed it was worth it. In my mind it was clear that even though that person could have murdered another human being, we have no jurisdiction to kill them, and we would be no better as civilized being if we killed him.…
Many unjust convictions have shown that there are serious flaws in the Justice System, which have lead to innocent people being lead down death row. As a nation, we are coming up with more ways to fix the system so those who are innocent do not suffer, but many do still think that the death penalty should not even be a possibility should an innocent individual be found guilty. The question that remains though is, Even with all the Flaws in The Judicial system, and all the innocent convicted, should the Death Penalty be used, and should it be used at…
There are many differences in the way people view the death penalty. Some are against it and some agree with it. There have been many studies trying to prove or disprove a point regarding the death penalty. Some have regarded the death penalty as a hindrance, and some have regarded it as state sanctioned murder and not civilized. The death penalty has been linked to societies for hundreds of years. More recently, as we become more civilized, the death penalty has been questioned on if it is the correct way to so enforce justice on the people. The death penalty is a highly controversial subject. No one knows who’s right or who’s wrong-it’s fifty percent speculation and fifty percent research. It’s just a lot of thoughts and beliefs from people who have contributed to the death penalty controversy. Who’s right and who’s wrong? That is the question.…
One major purpose of the death penalty is to punish people for their horrible crimes. However, the death penalty has put many innocent people on death row. Since 1973, 156 people have been exonerated (released from death row/evidence shows they aren’t guilty). The average time between getting the death sentence and exoneration is about 11 years. This is already terrible, forcing innocent people to believe that their life is nearly over, because of a crime that they didn’t commit, but it gets worse. It is very likely that people living in the United States have been wrongly executed. Multiple cases have evidence that proves that the “criminal” is actually innocent. In 1991, the house of Cameron Todd Willingham was destroyed by a fire, killing the three children who were sleeping inside. Willingham escaped and his wife was shopping at the time. Prosecutors stated that Willingham had purposefully set the house on fire to cover up the abuse of his children. He was executed by lethal injection in 2004. However, there is a proof that shows that the fire was not caused by Willingham. Unfortunately, nothing can be done now because these people have already been executed, but it does teach us one thing: If the death penalty cannot be used to punish the real offender and risks the lives of innocent people in the process, it can’t be used by our…
On the other hand, family victims often call for the death penalty because their sibling/child had no right to die in the hands of a murderer. Since this person took their life, the family should have the right to lawfully take the murder's life. Life in prison is not always enough for them because they have an opportunity to leave on parole, and the thought of these murderous monsters being released into society again horrifies these families, thus they call for execution.…
The death penalty has always been a controversial topic in the United States. It is outlawed in 16 states, but it should be abolished in all fifty states. The act of the death penalty is irrational, costly, inhumane, and religiously immoral. Taking an individual’s life, because he/she murdered someone is senseless and is not a good representation of the United States.…
Did you know that 1,432 people have been executed since 1976? Capital punishment, aka the death penalty has claimed countless lived since it’s establishment in the United States in 1608. Executions happen pretty often, with 38 people being killed last year alone. The death penalty is an unnecessary and horrible punishment which should not be allowed.…