The Death Penalty

The topic that I chose to write about for my paper is the Death Penalty. I chose this topic because there has been so much controversy over capital punishment for years. This is also an issue that I feel very strongly about and enjoyed researching and writing about. There are many different reasons why people are either for or against the death penalty. There are religious reasons, moral reasons, and most of all basic human rights. Throughout my paper I will discuss the history of the death penalty, the different methods, reasons why people are for or against it, and my personal opinion.

First I will discuss the methods of the death penalty. Out of the thirty eight states that allow the death penalty, thirty seven of them use lethal injection as first choice. The process starts with binding the inmate to a gurney with monitors on their skin. “Two needles are then inserted into usable veins, usually in the inmates arms. Long tubes connect the needle through a hole in a cement block wall to several intravenous drips. The first is a harmless saline solution that is started immediately. Then, at the warden's signal, a curtain is raised exposing the inmate to the witnesses in an adjoining room. Then the inmate is injected with sodium thiopental, and anesthetic that puts the inmate to sleep. Next flows pavulon or pancuronium bromide, which paralyzes the entire muscle system and stops the inmates breathing. Finally the flow of potassium chloride stops the heart(www.deathpenaltyinfo.org).” The inmate initially dies from an overdose because of all the different medications injected. This is the most humane method of the death penalty, it is seemingly painless. Although there have been cases in which the execution team has injected the medication into a muscle instead of the vein, which causes extreme pain. This may happen in cases where inmates have been long time drug users and their veins are already damaged.

The next method of execution that I am going to discuss is electrocution. The only state that still uses this method is Nebraska. To me, this is one of the most in humane ways of execution. I have heard many stories of inmates catching fire and their eyes coming out of their head. The inmate seems to suffer a great deal. “For execution by electric chair the person is usually shaved and strapped to a chair with belts that cross his chest, groin, legs, and arms. A metal skullcap shaped electrode is attached to the scalp and forehead over a sponge moistened with saline. An additional electrode is moistened with conductive jelly and attached to a portion of the prisoners leg that has been shaved to reduce resistance to electricity. The prisoner is then blindfolded. A jolt of between 500 and 2000 volts, which lasts for about 30 seconds, is given. The doctors wait a few seconds for the body to cool down and then check to see if the inmates heart is still beating. If it is another jolt is applied(www.deathpenalty.org).”

Another method of execution is the gas chamber. There are currently five states that use the gas chamber. In this method “the inmate is strapped to a chair in an airtight chamber. Below the chair rests a pail of sulfuric acid. A long stethescope is typically affixed to the inmate so that a doctor outside the chamber can pronounce death. The executioner flicks a lever that releases crystals of sodium cyanide into the pail. The prisoner is then instructed to breath deeply to speed up the process(www.deathpenalty.org).” To me, this is another in humane method of the death penalty. I would think that it would feel as if you were being suffocated or drowning maybe. It is not an instant death, and puts the inmate through torture. To me this could be classified as cruel and unusual punishment.

The firing squad is a method of execution used in Idaho. In this method “the inmate is bound to a chair with leather straps across his waist and head, In front of an oval shaped canvas wall. The chair is surrounded by sandbags to absorb the inmates blood. A black hood is pulled over their head. A doctor locates the inmates heart with a stethescope and pins a circular white cloth target over it. Standing in an enclosure 20 feet away, five shooters are armed with .30 caliber rifles loaded with single rounds. One of the shooters is given blank rounds. Each of the shooters aims his rifle through a slot in the canvas and fires at the inmate. The prisoner dies as a result of blood loss(www.deathpenalty.org).” To me this should have never become an acceptable method of the death penalty. It is ridiculous to think that our officers are committing cold blooded murder. I don't think I'd even be able to sleep at night knowing I was one of the shooters. Granted, no one knows who shot the fatal shot.

The last method is hanging. This is the first method that was ever used in the united states. Today the only states that still use this method are Delaware and Washington. “For execution by this method the inmate may be weighed the day before the execution, and a rehearsal is done using a sandbag of the same weight as the prisoner. This is to determine the length of drop necessary to ensure a quick death. If the rope is too long, the inmate could be decapitated, and if its too short, the strangulation could take as long as 45 minutes. The prisoners hands and legs are secured, he or she is blindfolded and the noose is placed around the neck, with the knot behind the left ear. When a trapped door is opened the prisoner falls through(www.deathpenalty.org).”

Now that I have discussed the ways in which execution is performed, I am going to talk a little bit about a particular case that I found online. John B. Taylor is the only man remaining on death row in new york state. Since 1963 no man or woman has been executed in our state. Taylor was involved in the murder of five Wendy's workers in Queens about 7 years ago. He was then sentenced to the death penalty. I feel that execution is the easy way out for criminals. I think that life without parole should be a better choice. It gives the criminal time to repent and really feel the pain that they have caused others. I don't see why this man is still on death row when we have not executed anyone in new york state since 1963. Another case that I found interesting was that of a long island man, Stephen La Valle. He was sentenced to death after he raped a teacher. “As required by law a judge told the jurors that if they could not choose unanimously between a sentence of death and one of life without parole, he would impose a sentence that would make La Valle eligible for parole after 20 to 25 years(www.nytimes.com).” This seems ridiculous that a judge would even think of saying this to a jury. It is the law that you have to inform