Innocent People To The Death Penalty example essay topic

"May God have mercy on your soul". These are the last few words that someone facing the death penalty may hear. The reasons why these words are said are because the crimes these people have committed are so terrible that they are to be put to death and hopefully forgiven. The death penalty is one of the most controversial issues that America faces today. You may be wondering why we must kill the killers, is it morally justified, is it humane, is it administered fairly, is capital punishment a deterrent to crime, and most importantly SHOULD THE DEATH PENALTY BE ABOLISHED?

I will answer all of these questions to the best of my knowledge and explain why it is necessary to continue to use capital punishment. Some people say that capital punishment is not ethical because it is not morally justified. Why do people say this? Possibly because several people say", If killing is morally wrong, it is wrong for both the individual and the state" (Greenhaven 38). Although, I beg to differ because the harm that has been caused to the victim and their family will not even compare to the murderer's execution. The state has the right to execute murderers because we as the people took a vote that passed legislation to execute those whom are a danger to society.

Therefore, individuals do not have the right to harm another because of this law. The state is in control of making this a safe country to live in not the individual. Also because " Capital punishment for proven premeditated murder is not immoral; it is not even 'necessary evil'; it is a moral necessity, demanded by justice" (Greenhaven 21). If this just isn't flying for you and all this moral junk just doesn't apply to you, well then maybe you " re thinking", I think that is wrong because it is inhumane!" A man named Taylor stalked an 11-year-old girl by the name of Charla Nicole King". When he found her alone in her mother's home, he tore off the child's clothes, stuffed her underpants in her mouth, raped her and strangled her with a telephone cord. Whatever (rapist and murderer John) Taylor experienced in his final moments, it was nothing compared to the anguish of his victim" (Greenhaven 31-32).

These murderer's don't deserve the chance to walk down our streets another day of their lives. Next time you tell your self that it isn't fair that they have to go through that think of little eleven year old Charla. Another opposing viewpoint that some people tend to argue is that capital punishment is not administered fairly and innocent people are being executed. This is why concerned citizens must push for reforms in the legal system- such as finding of qualified legal assistance for capital defense cases- to prevent the execution of innocent people". Marshall says videotaping interrogations from the very beginning and showing them to juries would save us from the wrongful convictions and wrongful acquittals", (qt. in Greenhaven 79). We need to make sure that the people who are testifying against the defendants are legitimate and this could help the innocent lives from taking the death penalty.

Is capital punishment an effective deterrent to crime? Yes, because California's murder rate increased when the state repealed the death penalty in 1967; but when executions began again in 1980, the murder rate dropped. Since 1995 in New York (which was a state without the death penalty for two years prior) violent crime has dropped 23%, assaults are down 22%, and murders have dropped by nearly one-third (Greenhaven 104). In 1973, Arthur Shawcross, one of New York's most ruthless serial killers, was convicted of the brutal rape and murder of two children in upstate New York.

Since the death penalty had been declared unconstitutional, Shawcross was sentenced to prison. After serving just 15 years- an absurd prison term given the crime- he was paroled in 1988. In a horrific 21-month killing spree, Shawcross took 11 more lives. That is 11 innocent people who would have still been alive today had justice been served in 1973; 11 families that would have been spared the pain and agony of losing a loved one (Greenhaven 105). So again you ask, should capital punishment be abolished?

The answer is no! If murderers are allowed to live, there is a chance that they could kill again. When the state does not execute premeditated murderers, it violates the sanctity of human life. Those who uphold the death penalty see it as an act of justice not revenge.

I hope that I have answered many of your questions. I do want you to know that although I do agree with the death penalty there is a chance that we will be sending innocent people to the death penalty, but this will never change unless we push for reform as I said before. We all need to stand by it though because if we don't then not only one life at the gas chamber may be taken but also several more if they are let back out onto the street.