Capital Punishment

Capital Punishment is the act of executing a condemned criminal in the name of the law. Only the worst of criminals get the death penalty in the United States. Some examples of why they would get the death penalty would be if the defendant was convicted of a heinous crime. Many states have abolished the death penalty because it's "cruel" and "inhumane" to the convicted. I ask you this: what punishment makes justice for murder? I see it as "an eye for an eye." Taking from them what they have taken from you. In this case, it's another's life. I feel that capital punishment is a good thing. It does two things: (1) prevents sick murderers from being let back out into the world, and (2) sends a message to other criminals that there is a consequence to their actions.

Studies have shown that with the temporary hold on executions, murder rates have risen. In 1972 the U.S. temporarily withheld executions until 1977. A study was done in that time and it showed that with the number of executions decreasing, the number of murders rose. This switched back when executions resumed. The number of murders dropped after that.(Wikipedia)

The act of execution has been around for a long time. Over the years the technology of execution devices has improved. Early methods of executions consisted of stoning, hanging by suffocation, decapitation, and torture until death. Later, a more humane way of execution was developed as the guillotine created in France in the late 18 century. It was designed to sever the head of the condemned. Then a more humane way of hanging was introduced. This new one was thought up to sever the spinal cord of the condemned. With the introduction of the firearm, firing squads were developed to execute the condemned. Later came the electric chair and gas chamber. All of these methods of execution were public spectacles used to deter further acts of violent crimes.(Wikipedia/Wesleylowe.com)

One example comes from India between 1550 and 1882. The then British Colony was plagued by the religious cult named the Thuggees. The Thuggees worshiped the goddess Kali, the Hindustani goddess of destruction. The gang was credited with roughly more than 2,000,000 murders; most of which were wealthy travelers. They usually dressed as beggars or rich merchants to get close to their victims. They had a principle to never spill blood, so they strangled their victims. In order to stay in the "club" they had to kill at least once a year. The British government worked hard to try and hinder the club's religious executions. Between 1829 and 1848, the British government was able to suppress the Thuggees by mass arrests and quick executions. Rows and rows of Thuggees were left hanging, displayed down the streets, showing potential new members what was being done to stop them. The then leader of the group was known as "Buhram" was convicted of murdering 931 people; all being strangled with his waist cloth. Appropriately, his execution was for him to be hung until strangled. (Wesleylowe.com)

Back then, the British knew the difference between crime and punishment. They understood the need to protect public safety. Now, they're unsure with themselves, like the rest of the world. In 1948 the U.N. adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This was a pledge to promote fundamental rights as the foundation of justice, freedom, and peace to the world. Major European powers still see the U.S. violating human rights because we still practice the capital punishment, which they feel violates the UDHR. (Wesleylowe.com)

People would like to think that there are other ways of dealing with cases without using executions as a solution. This is called life without parole (LWP), which, basically, the convicted is stuck in a prison cell for the rest of their life. This has major drawbacks to it, one being the potential for escape, which can lead to more murders. Another is the cost of keeping that person in the prison. Another one that can be really stressful is the way that legislation can change and along with that is sentencing laws.

An example of escape starts in 1973 with the murder of a cab driver by Dawud Mu'Min. He served a 43 year sentence until his escape from a road work gang. Once he was free, he was able to start killing again. He stabbed and killed store keeper Gadys Nopwasky and stole a total of $4.00 in 1988. Thanks to capital punishment, he won't be able to murder ever again. (Pro-Death Penalty.com)

The other drawback regarding legislation is the Moore case from New York. James Moore raped and strangled a 14 year old girl in 1962. Her parents decided to not enforce the death penalty and let him live life in prison without parole. In 1982 there was a sentencing law which allowed Moore to be eligible for parole every two years. If they would have taken advantage of the death penalty, they wouldn't have to worry about the potential release of their daughter's murderer every two years. Imagine how haunting that would be if you were in their shoes. That just shows that laws change and criminals can be let back out into the world with the high possibility of killing again. (Pro-Death Penalty.com)

The cost of LWP is huge; Up to $50,000 a year per prisoner. This can add up over a life sentence of 40 to 50 years. This is roughly 1.2 to 3.6 million dollars more than death penalty cases. Where does this money come from you ask? You. Your tax dollars are keeping a convicted killer alive. (Wikipedia.com)

Along with government, religion has a major impact in capital punishment. In the Holy Bible, the sixth of the Ten Commandments states that "thou shall not kill" but if you translate the same commandment straight from Hebrew it says "thou shall not murder" which has a different meaning. Murder is described in the dictionary as an unlawful killing of a person. There are many places in the bible where it states the use of capital punishment and the death penalty. Here are a few:

"He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death."- Exodus 21:12 "Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer