Author: mattlewandowski14

Should we Abolish the death Penalty?

Capital Punishment

A question that has been circling through society for many years is whether the death penalty should remain a punishment. Currently, in the United states, the death penalty is executed through lethal gas, lethal injection, firing squad, hanging, and electrocution. Many see these as brutal, inhumane things to do to any person, while the other side sees this as a reasonable punishment for certain actions. Many people have different but strong views of this subject, while both sides have valid arguments. But the question still remains, should we abolish the death penalty?

As shown, the United states is pretty divided regarding capital punishment. There are currently 28 states in the U.S., that have the death penalty in affect. A main question asked, is the death penalty effective?

Abolish Capital Punishment

People arguing against the death penalty present some main points like how it is ineffective and an inhumane method of punishment. The feeling of taking one’s life does not sit well with many. This idea is expressed by the governor of California, Gavin Newsom.

“I know people think eye for eye, but if you rape, we don’t rape,” he said. “And I think if someone kills, we don’t kill. We’re better than that.”

Gavin Newsom

This idea is expressed from a leader, and someone with strong feeling of the subject. He wants his audience, the people of California, to join him and help portray his message. He bring effectiveness to his statement by relating the subject to rape, another idea in which people feel strongly about. tying this together he shows the image of what it means to be against this type of punishment. He states that us as people are better than that, there are ways for justice and more effective ways to execute a punishment. He continues to effectively represent his idea,

“I cannot sign off on executing hundreds and hundreds of human beings, knowing — knowing — that among them will be innocent human beings.”

Gavin Newsom

Another idea of the message against the death penalty is represented in the statement by Mr. Newsom. He starts off saying that we are better than that, meaning we do not need to kill to prove a pint or gain justice. He then effectively ties in a reason behind his meaning. Many argue that capital punishment is effective, but statistics show there are some flaws with this from of punishment. Although mostly accurate, there are innocents executed from the death penalty. This is the idea that Newsom wants to get across. That innocents are executed and it is not okay.

“We can’t give back a life once it is taken, and for one I would prefer a cautious approach to even the slightest possibility of taking an innocent person’s life”

Geo Ilyin

This idea does not sit well with the protestors of the death penalty. People are already against this method of punishment, and that is for the given criminals. When the idea of now executing innocent people comes to mind, it brings a different level of passion to the subject.

Signe cartoon TOON30 Death Penalty Crimes

This cartoon brings the next argument for those against capital punishment. Shown in the cartoon is a woman teaching a class about the death penalty. While teaching, she shows the crimes that result in the death penalty. Race is the idea of this lesson, and the idea behind the argument against the death penalty. On the board, you can see that white people go on trial for the death penalty only for very serious crimes, like murder treason and spying. While black people get the same punishment for not only those crimes, but things so simple like getting in to your car, or jogging. Now the idea isn’t that black people get capital punishment for walking with skittles, it is that when race comes in to play in the courts, the situation gets handled differently. People against the death penalty argue that this is not okay. They see a minority group being targeted with these extreme punishments and claim it is unacceptable. People argue that people of color are targeted with the fact that,

“Blacks make up 12% of the U.S. population, but they make up 48% of those on death row (55% of those on death row are people of color)”

Brad Bushman

Now this is one of the larger arguments people have against the death penalty. When it comes to the controversy of whether to keep the death penalty or not, many use the idea of racism to back their claim. The unfortunate truth is that racism still exists. Although there has been great progress towards civil rights, it does exist. Although there isn’t much people can do that, arguers against the death penalty fight that this is on racist procedure that can be abolished.

Keep Capital Punishment

Now as strong as people feel to abolish the death penalty, the other side to keep the penalty feel just as passionate. Many feel that this is the only method to punish those who have done the most inhumane crimes, like murder. People, especially the families of victims, feel the opposite as governor Newsom. That in these situations, it is necessary to go eye for an eye, and set the image that there are some crimes are simply unacceptable. A main argument to keep the death penalty is that it is an effective deterrent. People supporting this believe that knowing that the death penalty is an active method of punishment, they will think twice about committing a murder, in fear that they will lose their life in the process. This idea is best expressed by a proffesor at Fordham University,

“Even though statistical demonstrations are not conclusive, and perhaps cannot be, capital punishment is likely to deter more than other punishments because people fear death more than anything else. They fear most death deliberately inflicted by law and scheduled by the courts. Whatever people fear most is likely to deter most. Hence, the threat of the death penalty may deter some murderers who otherwise might not have been deterred. And surely the death penalty is the only penalty that could deter prisoners already serving a life sentence and tempted to kill a guard, or offenders about to be arrested and facing a life sentence. Perhaps they will not be deterred. But they would certainly not be deterred by anything else. We owe all the protection we can give to law enforcers exposed to special risks.”

Ernest van den Haag

This idea expresses the feelings of those in favor of capital punishment. The feeling that those who are willing to commit such horrid crimes, fear, if anything, death by law. Supporters also argue the danger that other inmates and guards face by keeping these types of people around. They argue that the death penalty provides safety for the individuals that would be surrounded by the people who should be executed.

“I don’t think you should support the death penalty to seek revenge. I don’t think that’s right. I think the reason to support the death penalty is because it saves other people’s lives.”

George W. Bush

President Bush has an effective way of expressing this idea. He explains his main point in supporting the death penalty is to save lives. When saying this he appeals to his audiences pathos. He puts it in perspective showing that by carrying out capital punishment, lives are saved.

Recidivism is another large factor that the people supporting the death penalty argue. Wether it is in prison or not, people are scared; individuals willing to commit a horrible crime once, are more than likely willing to do it again. This argument behind the supporters of the penalty is explained in the statistic,

“About 68 percent of 405,000 prisoners released in 30 states in 2005 were arrested for a new crime within three years of their release from prison, and 77 percent were arrested within five years”

STEPHANIE SLIFER

This statistic is a reason that drives the supporters of the death penalty to fight to keep it. It is very common once a prisoner is released for them to reoffend. So not only are people worried that these criminals willing to murder will be released and be able to murder again, but that if these criminals are kept alive, they have nothing but time to do the same thing. Murderers kept in jail have the rest of their life to spend in prison, so they have nothing to lose. it is feared that because of that, everyone planning on getting released as well as guards, are in danger when surrounded by these people

The question

Both sides to this controversial topic have points that are worth being heard on both sides. Now while both ideas behind the subject are strong, valid, and passionate, it is hard to tell wether the U.S. will come together for a common decision. Because while these ideas are valid to both sides, this sensitive subject has sides too passionate to agree in the other. It is tough to get every one on the same side of this argument when the people involved can be anywhere from the family member of a victim to a religious individual that simply can’t support the idea. So the question will remain, should we abolish the death penalty?

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