We consider the lethal injection humane compared to old forms of execution such as hanging or firing squad, when in reality, there have been many botched executions involving the lethal injection, and in some states, firing squad, gas chambers, hanging, and electrocution may still be used if the the lethal injection drugs are unavailable (Death, 2011). Because doctors are not ethically allowed to aid in the …show more content…
Some may say that the death penalty is helpful to society because it intimidates criminals into committing less crimes, particularly murders, when in reality, studies like one done by Benjamin S. Tyree of the University of Richmond show that there is no correlation between the use of the death penalty and lower murder rates, and if anything, states that do not use the death penalty, have lower murder rates than those that do (Deter, Tyree). If that is the case, then it is obvious that the death penalty does not benefit our country.
For these reasons, and many others, the Supreme Court should rule all capital punishment as cruel and unusual punishment. It is not humane to torture and kill criminals. It is not helpful to the country in any way. And most importantly, it puts innocent lives at stake. If you support the death penalty, think about this: is it really worth killing innocent people, just to kill criminals as well? Doesn’t that make us, and the entire justice system, just as bad as the criminals? I do not think it is worth the