The Death penalty, which is legally known as capital punishment, has been in debate since it has first been in discussion. It has never been illegal in America, and although it creates controversy, it will not disappear anytime soon. Some people see it as a violation of the eighth amendment "cruel and unusual punishment", and costs of the actual death sentence is very expensive. Others believe it is the only punishment that should be allowed for a crime that is so heinous. 60% of domestic Americans feel the death penalty should be used and that number is only increasing over the years. The Death penalty should definitely be in consideration when lives are taken by a indescribable brutal act to the highest degree.
Back in 1997 a ten-year old boy was lured into a car by two men in Cambridge, Massachusetts who promised the boy a new bicycle. When he got in the car the two men attempted to rape him. When he resisted they beat him, and smothered him with a gasoline-soaked rag and proceeded to sexually assault him as he lay dying. His body was found six days later in a container at the bottom of the river in Maine. The governor of Massachusetts, which continually has the lowest crime rate in America, electrified the state with saying it was long pass due for the death penalty to be placed on the two men.
Another example is in 2007 a home invasion murder of a Connecticut mother Jennifer Hawke- Petit and her two daughters Haley 17 and Michaela 11 by the killer Steven Hayes. He was convicted of 16 felony counts which included raping the mother and one of the daughters. The only survivor was the husband and father Dr. William Petit who was beaten and tied to a pole in the basement, but escaped to the neighbors house shortly before his house was burned down with his family still inside. Connecticut has only executed one prisoner in the last 40 years and is considering the execution of Steven Hayes. The only set back is the cost weighing out Steven sitting in jail for the rest of his life.
Overall both of these stories show the emotional strain that the victims families have to suffer with once their innocent loved ones are gone. Yes, the cost of the process might be expensive but should that be even considered for the crime they committed? The death sentence can somehow give people some closure to what will be a part of them for the rest of their lives. But is this closure enough? Maybe not, but at least they can peacefully know that in their eyes the killers justice was served.
Sarah Giffin
I believe that there are the same amount of reasons of why the death penalty should be allowed just as much as it shouldn't be allowed. I know that some believe that anyone who is charged with murder should be sentenced to the death penalty so they can get a taste of their own medicine. And I can somewhat agree to that. But when I really sit there and think about I feel like it shouldn't be allowed. I feel that if someone who is charged for killing another human being, should be sentenced to life in prison. That way they can be miserable and have to go through all awful things that happen in jail. In my opinion, one would suffer more going through all the beatings and tear downs that one would go through being there. I feel that they would suffer more by having to remember every day what they did wrong and why they are sitting in that jail cell and to know that they will never be let out.
ReplyDeleteKara Oliver
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ReplyDeleteI agree with the death penalty to a certain extent. Some murder crimes are so disturbing that death seems to be the only thing equal to what they have done. The killers in these cases find pleasure out of thinking about what they have done and don't mind sitting there everyday in a prison cell. Also there is talk everyday about how our prisons are over crowded. In some cases the accused have even been able to send mail to the families of their victims and cause even more suffering. I believe the penalty should reflect the crime.
ReplyDeleteShae N.