Capital Punishment

Capital Punishment

Across America we see many different political views from state to state, but if you look even further, across the world there are even bigger margins. Mostly in America and state wide you will find your fair share of forgiving people, a share of stubborn “I want revenge!” and also those who sit in between and need to have a decision made for them. In some surveys you may see a distinct difference from two options given, but add a third and more compromising option, you will see a survey change dramatically. The general aim should be to provide that opportunity so that we are not left with a select hand full of people that don’t know how to sway their own vote.

Capital Punishment is the perfect example for mixed opinions and an area for greater research and improvement. Right now if we gave you two boxes and asked you to check one; For the death Penalty, or Against the Death Penalty. I can already say that two-thirds of this country, given an example of a crime, will say for. However if I added a third possibility of prison without parole, then it takes a little more to think about and decisions start to become more varied.

This does not fall into a category for people who are “interested” in an issue; instead this is more an area for concern amongst the general public, especially victims and their families. You don’t just one day decide “I wonder why some people get the death sentence and others don’t.” the reason you are thinking about this issue is that you have seen or heard something either on the television or radio or in the newspaper that has caused some unrest in your thoughts. Establishing why a jury makes a decision at times can be hard to understand. Put yourself in their position and think what would I do, is it merely one rule for all or are there special circumstances? That’s what we need to find out, whether it be in this country or another how do we determine the penalty?

If innocent men and women have been sentenced to death and their lives were ended, how successful is this punishment? If you were related to a suspect who was hung or given a lethal injection, how would you feel if months or years later this person was proven innocent? Also in the reverse scenario think about a murderer who escaped the death penalty, and after 30 years in prison they were released for good time served, and were living in your neighborhood? Now how do you decide what kind of sentence convicted criminal really deserves, or do we have to take into consideration their history and frame of mind? There will always be objectives, whether they are written or verbal we may never have a peaceful and clear decision over this. To persuade a whole nation that one way is correct and another is ludicrous it’s virtually impossible, but being able to change a few opinions to be more open minded is not far from reach.

Some states and governments across America are strongly for the death penalty, justifying the practice of execution by appealing to the principle of retribution. Up to date “there are currently 3,400 convicted criminals sitting on death row waiting for their punishment”(Marquis