Frank Dickerson Capital Punishment
Capital Punishment For many years, capital punishment (also known as the death penalty) has been a classic topic for debate. According to the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary, capital punishment is “the execution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction by a court of law of a criminal offense.” (Merriam-Webster) The question remains: Is capital punishment proper for some crimes or should it be abolished? There are many arguments for and against this punishment procedure. Throughout this paper the supporters’ arguments, the opponents’ arguments as well as the indecisive views on capital punishment will all be discussed without assessment.
Supporters of the death penalty argue that capital punishment is needed in order to prevent future murders. Basically saying that the best way to prevent murders is by helping people to see what the consequences will be death if they senselessly take someone else’s life. Other supporters have argued that the only way to reiterate justice is to take the murderer’s life; eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth or in this case blood for blood. In other words those who are for capital punishment feel that no person who takes a life should be allowed to live either. Supporters see it as though vengeance is the only key to closure for a suffering family. It is not the fact that their hearts are cold. However, supporters of capital punishment think that anything less than retribution is devaluing the society. Capital punishment is effective in more than 30 states in the United States, but has it effectively deterred people from committing such heinous crimes?
Capital punishment supporters continuously argue with opponents that capital punishment does deter people from committing these terrible crimes. According to the 2010 article in CQ Researcher titled Death Penalty Debates, fourteen studies found by capital punishment supporters showed that there is evidence that capital punishment does in fact have a deterrent effect. (Jost)
Supporters of the death penalty argue that capital punishment is needed in order to prevent future murders. Basically saying that the best way to prevent murders is by helping people to see what the consequences will be death if they senselessly take someone else’s life. Other supporters have argued that the only way to reiterate justice is to take the murderer’s life; eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth or in this case blood for blood. In other words those who are for capital punishment feel that no person who takes a life should be allowed to live either. Supporters see it as though vengeance is the only key to closure for a suffering family. It is not the fact that their hearts are cold. However, supporters of capital punishment think that anything less than retribution is devaluing the society. Capital punishment is effective in more than 30 states in the United States, but has it effectively deterred people from committing such heinous crimes?
Capital punishment supporters continuously argue with opponents that capital punishment does deter people from committing these terrible crimes. According to the 2010 article in CQ Researcher titled Death Penalty Debates, fourteen studies found by capital punishment supporters showed that there is evidence that capital punishment does in fact have a deterrent effect. (Jost)
Cited: america. "Decline in death penalty." America (2014). Jost, Kenneth. "Death Penalty Debates." CQ Researcher (2011): 965-987. Koch, Edward. "Justice Is Served With the Death Penalty." The Death Penalty. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Merriam-Webster. 15 April 2013. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capital%20punishment>.