The death penalty, which is also known as Capitol Punishment, is when a person who has been convicted and found guilty of a severe crime is punished by being put to death. This has been a topic of heated debate for quite some time, many states in the U.S. have abolished this form of punishment for ethical reasons, but some still practice it today. Since 1976 there have been nearly 1500 people executed in America. Let’s take a look at both sides of this argument.
Pros of Death Penalty
Harsh Punishment For Harsh Crimes
The death penalty has acted as a deterrent to crime for many years. Extremely brutal crimes, such as murder, needs to be handled with a strong hand so that other people do not feel that they can get away with it.
Safety Concerns
Someone who has been sentenced to death is no doubt dangerous. They are a danger to society, as well as their fellow inmates. Leaving them around other people poses the risk of even more people losing their lives.
Retribution
The death penalty has served a great way to ease the pain of loss for the victim’s families. It has become a way to honor victims, whose lives where taken from them in the same way their murderer’s life will be taken from them. This, my friends, is called justice.
Cons of Death Penalty
Wrongful Convictions
It is not completely abnormal for an innocent person to be found guilty of a crime that they did not commit. The death penalty could put these innocent people to death, and have in the past.
Costs
It is extremely expensive to put someone to death in this country. There are meticulous standards that must be met. Most people don’t actually realize that the cost of putting someone to death is greater than what it would cost to imprison them for life.
Unethical
The largest argument that is associated with the death penalty is that the government should not be able to make the decision of whether or not to take somebody’s life, no matter what crimes they have committed.
Gaining a better understanding of all of the benefits and consequences of using the death penalty is the only way to make a decision for yourself if it’s wrong or right.
