Why Is The Death Penalty Ethically Wrong

Let’s say you discovered an acquaintance of yours committed a string of violent crimes and is now going to face trail for doing so. This person committed crimes such a rape, first degree homicide, multiple forms of abuse to a small child, among others. Many of these crimes committed are ones you personally find disgusting and unforgivable. Now theoretically, if you were told to chime in on whether the suspect was to be sentenced life in prison, or sentenced to the death penalty, which would you choose? What is the first thought that comes to your mind? Think about it for a minute, I’ll wait… Personally, I’d want the criminal to feel as much pain as he caused his victims. Many people argue the death penalty is morally wrong and unethical.
“Capital punishment does not deter crime.”, “Capital punishment goes against almost every religion.”, so what? You’re telling me criminals who show no remorse, who don’t feel what they did was wrong and they would do it again if set free, don’t deserve to be sentenced to death? You’re telling me those sick (for lack of a better term) bastards, deserve to live? Criminals have rights, yes. They also deserve a fair trial, blah blah blah. You know what they also deserve? They deserve whatever comes their way. If that means the death penalty, then so be it. Aside from religion and personal beliefs, now days because of how many wrongfully convicted innocent people have been sentenced to death, this topic is a bit controversial.
In fact, “Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in the United States in 1976, 138 innocent men and women have been released from death row, including some who came within minutes of execution.” That’s 138 out of the 1,427 sentenced, by the way. I don’t think this is necessarily a death penalty issue though. I feel it’s more of a testimony or due process problem, if anything. Perhaps the cases of these innocent men and woman were not thoroughly investigated or given a fair enough
trial. On March 13th, 1980 “John Wayne Gacy was found guilty in the deaths of thirty-three young men and as Sullivan said, he had the "singular notoriety of having been convicted of more murders than anyone else in American history." Gacy received the death penalty and was sent to Menard Correctional Center where, after years of appeals, he eventually was killed by lethal injection.” The bodies of most of Gacy’s victims were buried in the crawl space under his home in the Chicago, IL.
“Evidence showed that the defendant led a double life, engaging in charitable and political activities at the same time he was committing a series of sadistic torture murders. He enticed many young men to his home for homosexual liaisons, tying or handcuffing his partners then strangling or choking them. Gacy was a successful contractor, was active in the community, and often dressed up as a clown for parties.” Though Gacy’s defense trial was at first a plea of insanity, he was later found guilty and sentenced with the death penalty. After all, Gacy was the one to come clean to the police that he killed at least thirty people and buried most of the remains of his victims beneath the crawl space of his house. His confession shows that he knew what he did, and he knew it was wrong. Crazy or not, the crimes he committed were heinous, gruesome, violent, and against the freaking law. “After years of appeals, Gacy was eventually killed by lethal
injection.” If one of the many appeals Gacy attempted, followed though, and he was not sentenced to prison he could be alive today. If the court found him insane he would most likely be in a mental institution. Unlike prison, eventually you’re able to leave, because in mental institutions once able to prove mental stability you’re allowed back into society. Both of those scenarios don’t sit well with me. Gacy was killed by the state. Gacy was giving a last meal, anything he wanted, and was then killed by lethal injection, meaning he felt no pain. John Wayne Gacy killed, tortured, and raped over 30 people. In my mind, he got off easy. I understand how many people are against the death penalty, but if I haven’t already proved my point, I am not. I’m all for it. Aside from the cost, the religious reasons, and morals I think it’s completely just. This being said, it’s not like I go screaming “OFF WITH HIS HEAD” to anyone sentenced to prison. I simply feel life in prison isn’t enough of a punishment for someone similar to Gacy. In prison convicts are locked up from society, and have little contact with “the outside world” but they have health care, meals, a place to sleep. They even have a gym and recreational area, a library and computers for God’s sake. How the hell is that a punishment? Criminals who commit multiple felonies and are sentenced to the death penalty get the sentence for a reason. Besides, any criminal who’s messed up enough to kill and rape a bunch of people would probably be happy in prison. It would be like their own personal vacation. It’s not like criminals are stealing a pack of gum, and being sentenced to be hanged. Criminals are going to suffer the consequences of breaking the law. When the crimes they commit are serious enough to be sentenced to death, then it’s their own fault. It is not my fault, it isn’t the states, or the jury’s, it’s the criminal’s fault. The criminal is responsible for his own fate. For religious reason, I think God will understand. He may even be grateful, because it’s just one more disgusting excuse for a human to be crossed off of his list. If the death penalty didn’t cost so much (which is absolutely ridiculous) there would probably be grounds for it to happen much more often, and I’m okay with that. I’m NOT for violence in anyway, but I don’t like sick twisted psychopathic individuals walking this earth alongside me.