America Needs The Death Penalty Essay example - 1353 Words

The death penalty has been a heated topic of debate for many of years. Some people believe that the death penalty is unconstitutional in that it is cruel and unusual punishment. Many people also think that the states do not have the authority to take a life. They think that it is god’s responsibility to judge life and death not mans. So they look at the death penalty from a religious view point. Items that this commission will consider in evaluating the humanity and constitutionality of the death penalty, are is lethal injection a humane way to put an offender to death. We will also consider the constitution to ensure the state follows the constitution. Further, consideration will be given to if the state ensuring that all death†¦show more content†¦The first medicine given to the inmate who is receiving the lethal injection is called barbiturate anesthetic sodium thiopental (Hooper). This drug is mixed into a liquid form and it is generally prepared by prison staff ( Hooper). Because of this drug variability, doctors have stated that they are sure inmates have suffered (Hooper). After the barbiturate anesthetic sodium drug is administered, inmates are given pancuronium bromide (Hooper, 2006). This drug stops the inmates breathing and then stops the heart from beating, but because the inmate is paralyzed and cannot breathe, he or she would not be able to let anyone know the pain they may be going through (Hooper). Even with all these variables in place that can potentially cause great pain to the inmate receiving the lethal dosage, it is still considered the most humane way to carry out the death penalty among the states (Hooper). Hooper also states that the actual time of death of the inmate may not come until 30 to 45 minutes after the first shot was given to the inmate. Could that be considered cruel and unusual punishment? This is one valid argument that people make. That is why it is important for the commission to look at the constitutional ity of the death penalty. If lethal injection truly is cruel and unusual then that would be illegal in the eyes of the federal government. Nobody has the authority to goShow MoreRelatedAmerica Needs a Tougher Death Penalty Essay1049 Words   |  5 PagesAmerica Needs a Tougher Death Penalty    Pain. Anger. Frustration. Hatred. These feeble words do not describe the anguish felt by the families of murder victims. Ted Bundy was responsible for the deaths of more than 50 young women across the United States.(Lamar 34) Bundy was finally sentenced to death by the state of Florida in 1978 for the kidnapping and brutal murder of a 12 year old girl and the deaths of 2 Florida State sorority sisters.(Lamar 34) As if the loss of a loved one is not enoughRead MoreCapital Punishment Is Not Effective865 Words   |  4 Pagesthere is an estimated 2% to 5% of all prisoners in America are innocent. Capital punishment is legal authorization to kill someone as a punishment for crimes such as treason, terrorism, espionage, federal murder, and large-scale drug trafficking. In the 1960s, the American Convention on Human rights was created providing a right for life, but the death penalty is included as an exception. While the percent for capital punishment is high in America the majority of A mericans would rather have the sentencingRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Not Accepted Essay1173 Words   |  5 PagesAmericans, â€Å"more than 60% of them support the death penalty† (Harden 1). Many people in the United States support this decision because they feel like justice needs to be rightfully served to those who committed unforgivable crimes. In some cases, this may seem inhumane but in other cases, it is what is best for the community for the people. The death penalty has been around for many years and it is still a debatable topic for some individuals. The death penalty was created to help, not harm; however,Read MoreAchieving Nothing Except Revenge: Research Shows That Capital Punishment Is Unsuitable for Civilized Nations1404 Words   |  6 Pagesin America took place (Urbina 8). Since then, the debate over capital punishment has been never-ending, capturing the attention of citizens of all types. Americans have argued relentlessly over many issues that the deat h penalty brings to politics, economics, and moral values. In the article titled â€Å"Does Death Penalty Save Lives? A New Debate,† Adam Liptak explores both sides of the debate, highlighting the benefits that the death penalty provides to society. He states that the death penalty detersRead MoreCapital Punishment Should Be Eliminated1342 Words   |  6 PagesCapital Punishment should be eliminated in America The European influence on America gave way to the similarities between our cultures, including the death penalty. The first recorded execution in America was that of Captain Kendall in Virginia in 1608. Kendall was executed for being a spy, but at that the time capital punishment was used even for minor crimes. Fast forward 150 years to the Abolitionist Movement and we see Cesare Beccaria post an essay in 1767 declaring the state has no right toRead MoreEssay on The Death Penalty Is Morally Unjustified1197 Words   |  5 Pagesof the death penalty otherwise known as capital punishment goes back as far as the eighteenth century B.C., when the code of King Hammurabi of Babylon listed 25 crimes which were punishable by death. Since then, the uses of the death penalty have prevailed throughout the ages in laws and justice systems of different civilizations. For instance, the Draconian Code of Athens punishes all crimes with the death penalty. During those times, the death penalty invol ved suffering a gruesome death such asRead MoreThe Death Penalty is An Effective Weapon Against Crime Essay1309 Words   |  6 Pagespunishment.  Ã‚   Many people believe that it no longer serves out its intended purpose of deterring crime.   Others believe that the death penalty is an inhumane act of violence and that it should be banished from the justice system all together.   The thought of playing God also is another aspect of the situation.   Despite these allegations however, the facts still remain.   The death penalty deters crime, stops repeat offenders, and gives Americans a real sense that justice has been served, and should thereforeRead MoreTaking a Look at Capital Punishment764 Words   |  3 PagesDeath penalty is also known as capital punishment. Capital Punishment is a penalty of execution, administered to someone legally convicted of a capital crime. The death penalty was established in America in 1608. The British influenced America to use the death se ntence. The first recorded practice of the death penalty in America was to Caption George Kendall in Virginia, he was found guilty of being a spy for Spain. However, the death penalty came long before Captain George Kendall. The first establishedRead MoreThe Death Penalty And Mental Illness1594 Words   |  7 PagesThe Death Penalty and Mental Illness Receiving the death penalty is the worst and final penalty that the United States Justice System can administer, especially for those who are mentally ill. Many Americans are questioning the morality of executing mentally ill convicts, as well as the validity of the death penalty itself. These are the questions Americans should be asking, or at least putting some thought into. One might be surprised at how much knowledge one has about the death penalty and veryRead MorePros And Cons Of The Death Penalty1348 Words   |  6 Pagesmost shocking, the death penalty. The death penalty, also referred to as capital punishment, was first introduced in the form of hanging hundreds of years ago when America was first established. Now, the most common way of execution proves to be death by lethal injection. For hundreds of years, people have argued over whether or not the general idea of capital punishment stands morally correct. Many have also debated if anyone holds the right to end anotherà ¢â‚¬â„¢s life. The death penalty, morally wrong and