Haskins The Death Penalty The death penalty should be abolished because it is cruel and unusual punishment, it does not deter crime and it is costly. The death penalty is also known as capital punishment. This death by execution is ordered by the court to people convicted for a capital crime. Capital punishment is an issue that has been argued in the United States for years. Many are opposed to it, yet the majority support it as evidenced by the fact that the laws still exist. Nearly 1,400 prisoners have been executed between the years 1976 and the end of 2014 (Rizzo). Currently, there are 31 states in the United States where the death penalty is legal and 19 states where it is banned. Within the western countries, the United States is the leader and the only one administering the death penalty. The federal government allows the states to use their own discretion when it comes to the use of the death penalty. However, in 1972, the For instance, in the years 1996, 78 percent were in favor and 18 percent opposed it; but by the year 2013, the supporter had dropped by 55 percent and the opposition had risen 37 percent (Berman). Some may argue that the death penalty is fair because it prevents criminals from committing the act again. However, if murder is a horrible act, it is not logical to take the life of the one who supposedly committed the crime . The death penalty is a harsh punishment for a crime and there are other alternatives, such as life without parole. Furthermore, it goes against the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which states the use of “cruel and unusual punishment” should be prohibited (Rizzo). Many supporters of capital punishment also argue that killing someone who is suspected of committing murder is the solution and they favor it because they feel the person deserves it. Vengeance and revenge have no place in the justice
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