the eighteenth century, England would punish by death for pickpocketing and
petty theft. Ever since the 1650's colonist could be put to death for denying
the true god or cursing their parents advocates. Capital Punishment have clashed
almost continuously in the forum of public opinion in state legislatures and
most recently in courts. In 1972, the case of Furman vs. Georgia reached the
supreme court. The court decided that punishment by death did indeed violate the
eighth amendment to containing that "excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and
unusual punishment inflicted." By this decision death sentences all over
the country were set aside. The three most common death penalties are the gas
chamber, lethal injection, and the electric chair. Capital punishment has become
an increasingly controversial issue over many decades. The problem lies between,
is the death penalty being accepted in murder cases or ruled out completely.
While some people feel that Capital Punishment will not discourage crime,
Capital punishment should be legalized in all states, because it is morally just
and it will deter crime. The many opponents of capital punishment who are
against it feel that the death penalty is not a deterrent and that it is
barbariaertic of the past. It has no place in a civilized society today. One of
the biggest arguments against capital punishment is people feel that it violates
the eighth amendment which forbids cruel and unusual punishment. People against
Capital Punishment believe the death penalty is absurd and is in un-Christian
practice. Further more, they feel society should not" encourage sentiments
of vengeance cater to morbid interest in ritual execution." Criminologists
also built a strong case that the threat of death failed to deter murder,
anymore effectively than prison. Therefore, to inflict harm to one, it is simply
useless. However, the punishment fits the crime therefore, it is morally just.
Capital punishment is an expression of society's moral outrage at offensive
conduct. This may be appealing to many but it is essential in an ordered
society. It asks our citizens to rely on legal procedures rather than to
self-help their wrongs doings. It is morally right to sentence a person to the
death penalty who has committed a serious crime as murder. If someone has
murdered a person it is unethical to let the murderer live when you have an
innocent person who is dead. Capital Punishment has to be based entirely on
consideration of justice and morality. Finally, the death penalty is a deterrent
against crimes. Statistics show that the crime rate is reduced in all states
that hold the death penalty. The point given to these people is that they are
less likely to commit a crime knowing they will receive the ultimate punishment
to kill. "No other punishment deters men so effectively from committing
crimes as the punishment of death". Still, Capital Punishment is supported
by many Americans. They usually rely on deterrence as their main reason to deter
people from committing serious crimes. Hopefully Capital Punishment will be
legalized in many states to eliminate violence from American life. Many people
feel Capital Punishment will not discourage crime. It promotes murder rather
than deter it. A desire for suicide is what leads some murders to their criminal
acts. Capital Punishment should remain legalized in all states. The two main
reasons are it is morally just and it will deter crime. The way our society is
today we need to continue on with the death penalty. It deters other murders and
it protects our society from them. Clearly, the usage of the death penalty will
force crime to be unacceptable in our world and protect our citizens. Emphasizes
the controversial nature of capital punishment and the difficulty in getting any
of the bills approving the death penalty pass both the House and the Senate
despite obvious public support for the practice.