Pro Death Penalty

Pro Death Penalty

We are all good people in this world, but we tend to make bad choices. A person who commits a crime would be sentenced to jail, and depending on the type of crime would determine the punishment. Even though we continue to use the death penalty as a form of punishment, there are those who oppose and those who agree with the process. I fully support the death penalty, first being the financial burden placed on our taxpayers to support prison inmates, second is the decrease in crime rate, and last are the rights taken away from the victims. Based on my views, I believe it will not take much convincing to agree with my choice of being Pro Death Penalty.

The death penalty originated as far back as the 14th to 15th century. The methods used at that time were more barbaric and inhuman. For example, people were burned alive, stoned to death, and even stabbed. Later on during the 18th century a king by the name of, Hammurabi of babylon, had used the death penalty as a form of punishment for a variety of crimes no matter how minor or severe. However, his methods were less brutal but still inhuman, like a crowd witnessing a hanging or execution. In today’s society we continue to use the death penalty but in a more civilized-private manner, mainly given to those who commit murder (an eye for an eye). The methods currently used are the electric chair, gas chamber, and lethal injection. There is also hanging and the firing squad, but not used much just considered an option. Inmates are even allowed to speak to a priest (asking for forgiveness) and provided a ‘Last Supper’ of their choice.

Majority of people are not aware of the financial responsibility it takes to keep an individual in prison. The government takes our hard-earned money to support these prison facilities. The expenses include meals, clothing, basic hygiene essentials, beds, books, utilities, entertainment, physical activities, etc. According to the New York Times, it cost annually between $20K-$100K per inmate based on the State. Meanwhile, the prisoners can care less of the financial support they receive. The only thing they give in return is misery, pain, and destruction. It is almost as if they are being rewarded for their crimes by living a better lifestyle than some lower class income families who can barely afford to feed their own children, and yet ironically a portion of their paycheck goes to support these felons. Overall the cost to keep an inmate in prison continues to be a financial burden to the entire working class.

It has been proven that imposing the death sentence or even abolishing it can affect the crime rate. According to the study conducted in the 1960s the crime rate increased by 7% during the years is was once abolished. On the other hand, fewer crimes were committed with the increase of inmates who were executed each year. These configures clearly indicates the efficiency of capital punishment. As report in Time Magazine, an estimated two million people in the United States have been victims of crimes from assault to murder. Therefore with insufficient laws to address the issue, criminals become careless and braver to commit these heinous crimes become of the leniency of punishment in the justice system. For these reasons the need for death penalty is mandatory.

The death penalty is a ‘just punishment’ for those who commit a crime against an individual’s right to life, freedom, and safety. It is a person’s right to live a life of peace and be free from harm. Unfortunately, crimes like rape, assault, and murder are committed by perpetrators who have no regards to life and property of others. Therefore, should it not be fair that the perpetrator be brought to justice and suffer the same fate they rightfully deserve? The difference between an individual’s crime versus the death penalty is the level of torture. Luckily, the convicted felon will suffer less than the victim. From a website, Deathpenalty.procon.org, it was said by J. Budziszewski, “Crime disturbs this just order, for the criminal takes from people their lives, peace, liberties, and worldly goods in order to give himself undeserved benefits.” By continuing to use the death penalty would guarantee that those who commit these horrendous crime will never be able to hurt another living soul, making our country a safer place.

It has been said that the death penalty can be seen as form of torture and therefore not acceptable within society. Many people believe it is not right to take a life, but instead show compassion by having them incarcerated for their mistakes. As expressed in William J. Brennan’s website, Procon.org, his interpretation of the death penalty is a severe punishment, causing unusual pain, treating us as nonhumans/inhumane. He continues to explain that the after effects of people being executed are put in the same category as unused toys being ignored and eventually discarded. What is wrong with this statement is the morality, meaning the concept of death penalty is not to kill the person for no reason, but rather used as a form of punishment for their actions.

Others believe the punishment system is unreliable because it runs the risk of executing innocent people, making it an irreversible sentence. As the website, Deathpenaltycurriculum.org, clearly states, “once an inmate is executed, nothing can be done