In 1972 the US Supreme Court ruled that the federal and state death penalty laws were "arbitrary and capricious" and they constituted cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Historically there has always been problems with the use of the death penalty. For example, you are more likely to be executed if you are a black person and killed a white person. There is always the possibility that innocent people are executed, however I do believe that the death penalty should not be abolished because there are people out there that deserve to be killed like murderers,rapists, and child molesters. It is sad that these kind of people get a life sentence while innocent people get executed. There needs to be a change in this system so that innocent people don't die.
Executions started again in 1977 and as of 2011, 1271 inmates have been executed in the U.S, according to Death Penalty Information Center. The Death Penalty Information Center has some disturbing facts that question several of the pro death penalty advocates main beliefs. " Since 1973, over 130 people have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence". I find it disturbing that many people spent years on death row only to find out that years latter that they were released. Another pro-death penalty belief is that the death penalty is a deterrence to crime. However the facts don't seem to prove this idea. "The 2010 FBI Uniform Crime Report showed that the South had the highest murder rate. The South accounts for over 80% of executions. The Northeast, which has less than 1% of all executions, tied with the West for the lowest murder rate". These facts make me concerned whether the Death Penalty can ever be fair.
From my research I found out that rapists and child molesters are exempt from the death penalty. I was surprised and it made me question my ideas about punishment. I had a neighbour whose twenty-six year-old son was murdered over a argument about a girl. She's a very religious person and she and her family have not sought vengeance. I hope that there are more people like her who do not want to have vengeance for their family member.
Facts:
All of the facts were from deathpeanaltyinfo.org
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/FactSheet.pdf
Josh,
ReplyDeletePretty good, but I am not sure if you support the death penalty or not. It is not really clear from the tone and the facts that you used.
Maybe you're not sure?
This blog seemed a bit rushed and thin on facts. I like the personal story, but be sure to fill each paragraph with solid, fact-based info.
As for your fact box, please list the 3 facts. You have only provided a link to your source. I want to see 3 key facts that you used in your argument.
GR: 80