The Death Penalty is an Acceptable Form of Punishment Essay

The Death Penalty is an Acceptable Form of Punishment On March 29, 1971, a thirty-seven-year-old male was convicted of killing seven people and suspected in killing another thirty-five. His methods of killing included gunshots, stabbing with forks, knives, or swords, dissecting, and battering with clubs. He showed no remorse for what he had done, but instead created a media circus in which he had a starring role (Blundell 124-30). If anyone deserved to be executed for a murder sentence, it was Charles Manson. His rampage, Helter Skelter as Manson himself called it, was one of the most brutal serial murders in United States history. The public was outraged and demanded a just and fair punishment. Yet Manson still†¦show more content†¦In poll after poll, more than seventy percent say they support the death penalty, a figure that has remained consistent for at least the past decade (Brownlee; Foster). While the percentages have not changed much, the nature of the discussion has. Not long ago, it was framed in terms of practicality: Was the death penalty effective in deterring crime? Was permanently incapacitating an offender the best way to protect society? Was capital punishment fairly and evenly administered (Foster)? Increasingly, another argument for the death penalty is being voiced, one far more elemental. It centers on the right of a victimise loved ones to gain peace of mind through the death[of the killer]. In other words, [this is] the right to a form of therapeutic vengeance (Landauer). Why do Americans hold these feelings of anger toward convicted murderers? Why do they feel that it is acceptable to serve the death sentence on inmates, even though it does not deter crime? And why do Americans, with a sense of vengeance, support the death penalty as a form of retribution instead of punishment? Perhaps the answer lies in simple demographics. While death penalty foes are quick to point out that the United States is one of the few Western countries with capital punishment, it is also true that Americans are more likely to experience violent crime than citizens of other countries. Americans might not feel so vengeful if they trusted the judicial system toShow MoreRelatedCapital Punishment And The Death Penalty1539 Words   |  7 PagesCapital punishment, otherwise known as the death penalty, has been the center of debate for a long time. Capital punishment may be defined as the â€Å"[e]xecution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction by a court of law of a criminal offense† (Capital Punishment). Up until 1846, when Michigan became the first to abolish the death sentence, all states allowed legal practice of capital punishment by the government (States). Currently, there 32 states still supporting the death penalty and 18Read MorePros And Cons Of The Death Penalty1348 Words   |  6 Pagesmethods o f punishment on lawbreakers and criminals. These include jail time, community service, paroles, fines, and the most shocking, the death penalty. The death penalty, also referred to as capital punishment, was first introduced in the form of hanging hundreds of years ago when America was first established. Now, the most common way of execution proves to be death by lethal injection. For hundreds of years, people have argued over whether or not the general idea of capital punishment stands morallyRead MoreTaking a Look at the Death Penalty1195 Words   |  5 PagesDeath Penalty Many criminals who commit murder are sentenced to death for the crimes they have committed. The death penalty is a highly controversial practice and the question that must be raised is: Should society continue to use the death penalty as a punishment for heinous crimes? Currently, this turbulent topic continues to be argued. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, there are already eighteen states that have abolished this archaic form of justice. Our society is movingRead MoreShould The Death Penalty Be Abolished?1443 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Death Penalty Be Abolished in the United States? Adalynne Francis CRJU 1000 Dr. Huss November 14, 14 Should capital punishment/ death penalty be abolished in the United States? Many feel that the death penalty is immoral and question whether the state and federal government deserve the right to kill those whom it has imprisoned. On the other hand, those opposed feel that by not acting upon the death penalty communities would plunge in anarchy and that by having the death penaltyRead MoreThe Debate Over Capital Punishment936 Words   |  4 PagesThe debate over capital punishment is in regards to whether the death penalty contradicts the Eighth Amendment. If the death penalty does contradict the Eight Amendment, then the State should not have the power to sentence criminals to death for capital crimes. However, if capital punishment is not against the Eighth Amendment, then the State has the right to sentence criminals to death. In this essay I will first summarize Justice Brennan’s argument on why the death penalty is beyond the power ofRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Justifie d1491 Words   |  6 Pagescrimes have risen in many forms. People tend to commit crimes even though the government clearly states the consequences for such actions taking place. One prime example is murder. Though people commit murder and acknowledge that the penalty for such act is life in prison, which still doesn’t deter humans from undertaking the act. Death penalty could be a solution to stop humans from committing such gruesome acts. Therefore I strongly believe that the death penalty is acceptable in several cases. ThurgoodRead MoreCapital Punishment Essay694 Words   |  3 PagesCAPITAL PUNISHMENT One of many issues that have been core of moral and legal discussions over history has been the death penalty (capital punishment). There is many people who are against this but there are others who are for. As well there are also many countries that have abolished death penalty and murderers thus get life sentences for their crimes while in other countries like China and many USA states are still cruelly punishing a lot of people in this way. Even though the death penalty hasRead MoreIntroduction Of The Death Penalty Debate1523 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction to the Death Penalty Debate It was said by an Iowa State Supreme Court justice in the 1840s, â€Å"Crime indicates a diseased mind in the same manner that sickness and pain do a diseased body. And as in the one case we provide hospitals for the treatment of severe and contagious diseases, so in the other, prisons and asylums should be provided for similar reasons† (Banner, 2002, p.118). Individuals who have committed crimes serve their sentences and punishments, or are â€Å"treated†, in prisonsRead MoreThe Death Penalty Should Not Be Practiced1627 Words   |  7 PagesCapital Punishment, also commonly known as the death penalty, is a very controversial topic thorough out the United States. Many arguments can be made for both sides of the argument, which has left the country spilt on whether or not it is an acceptable practice. Capital Punishment, the legal execution by the government of a person convicted of a series crime, is legal in 35 of the 50 states. There are many arguments among Christia ns on whether or not it is moral and/or biblically acceptable. ThisRead MoreCapital Punishment Of The United States961 Words   |  4 Pages Capital Punishment in the United States For centuries, capital punishment has been used as a consequence of capital crime. Criminals who have committed such crimes are subject to facing the death penalty. Pickens shares, â€Å"Capital crimes are considered to be treason or terrorist attacks against the government, crimes against property when life is threatened, and crimes against a person that may include murder, assault, and robbery