Should the Death Penalty Be Outlawed

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Death penalty has become a very controversial and high-visibility topic in the recent political and social activities. This is true both in the United States as well as around the world. There has already been a lot of shifts and changes over the years including the abandonment of hanging and firing squads. Even the electric chair has fallen mostly out of favor with the governments and law enforcement agencies of the world. However, even the remaining method commonly used in death penalty executions has started to get difficult, that being the use of lethal injection. Whether it be fear of liability or concern about conscience, many of the drug companies that manufacture the drugs that are used in lethal injections are starting to rescind their cooperation with law enforcement and government. This is part of a wider movement around the world to abolish the death penalty due to it allegedly being barbaric and uncivilized. The author of this response would argue that while simply imprisoning someone for life is cheaper and perhaps more of a punishment than death would be, the death penalty is still justified in principle.

Literature Review

When it comes to the literature about the death penalty, there are different viewpoints but the overall trends and patterns when it comes to public opinion and the direction of the law around the world is pretty clear. Of course, there are obvious reasons why many countries have chosen the death penalty in the past. Whether it be about punishing for the nastiest crimes or following the "eye for an eye" motto, the reasons that exist are well established (Anckar). The reasons that people rail against the death penalty run the gamut. Some say that blacks and other racial minorities are disproportionately affected in terms of sentencing and impacts to families (Steiker & Steiker). Some say that even if the right criminals are caught and executed, there are pros and cons to using the death penalty as a proposed or actual deterrent to crimes that would precede it (Steiker & Steiker). However, there are sources that suggest that the viewpoints about the death penalty are commonly shifting and changing (Falco & Freiburger) (Shirley & Gelman). Many people are vehement and active opponents against the death penalty. Rather than target the states or federal governments that make use of the death penalty, some advocates and groups are targeting the companies who make the drugs involved in lethal injection so as to create a bit of a moral marketplace (Gibson & Barrett-Lain). Some say that the death penalty is not a deterrent anyway and others say it does not matter if it is given the supposed barbarism involved (Gius). Others say that many to most people who commit death penalty-level crimes are mentally ill and thus should not be executed (Hagan, Drogin & Guilmette). Europe in particular has led the charge against the use of the death penalty and groups like Amnesty International have been along for the ride (Sithole)

Analysis

Even if the United States decides to capitulate to the "conscience" of the world, there are several points of argument that the author of this report would put forward. First of all, just because there is a "consensus" that the death penalty is barbaric or otherwise wrong does not mean that the United States is required to stop doing it. Indeed, it would seem that the countries of Europe and other areas of the world are trying to intimidate and bully drug companies and politicians in to believing that they will face consequences if they do not play along with the abolishment of the death penalty. For example, drug companies often operate internationally and there is the idea that the European Union or other governmental organizations of Europe or other civilized country areas will bring judgment or legal problems upon the companies that sell the death penalty drugs. When it comes to politicians, the pressure brought to bear on people who favor the death penalty are often demeaned and denigrated in very nasty and overt ways. This is not unlike global warming where skeptics of anthropogenic global warming are called "flat-earthers" and worse even while it is clear that data is being faked or manipulated and there is more interest overall in control and taxation than whether the science behind the conclusions being drawn is remotely solid.

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Indeed, nine out of ten people can say that the sky is purple ... but the sky is not purple. People with the stronger mindsets about the death penalty or global warming often seem more interested in bullying and scaring people into compliance rather than making a scientific case based on facts and proof.

The next reason to seize on is much like the prior one, but a little different. A lot of the sources consulted for this report center on public opinion and what the people think about the death penalty. While leaving things to a vote is one way to do things, the people are not always right. With that being said, there is more than one way to keep murderers and psychopaths off the streets and life and prison is as effective as the death penalty when it comes to recidivism of existing offenders. The only question is whether it has an effect on future offenders. Since most mass and premediated murders are mentally ill or unhinged in some way, considering whether one would go to jail or face the death penalty is probably not a huge concern. However, it would be a concern for many others since premediated murders where the person is absolutely lucid happen all the time. Some people that are technically sane just simply cannot control themselves.

Another reason the argument against the death penalty is shallow is the talk of whether it is a deterrent. While it most certainly is a deterrent for at least some people, that is not the main or only reason to execute someone for egregious deeds that are committed. Indeed, the other facet about any criminal sentence, death penalty or not, is the punishment aspect. Even if the imprisonment and/or execution of a murderer does not deter others from doing it, these people are the worst of the worst. As such, they should, at the very least, not ever see the light of day again. The same goes, to a lesser degree, for people who commit less serious but definitely still violent crimes such as shootings/attempted murder, rapes and the raping/molesting of kids. Even if they are mentally ill or generally unhinged, they should be thrown under the jail and removed from society. The arguments made about "cruel and unusual" ring hollow when murders and psychopaths are allowed to return to the streets and commit more crimes. The same could even be said for people that habitually commit offenses like driving under the influence. Whether it be addiction or sociopathy, those people are a danger to themselves and others and thus they need to be committed to some institution until they get their mind right. If a person is a drunk that drives drunk all the time yet refuses to get rehab, off to jail they go. The same holds true for murderers. People that commit premeditated murder should, at the very least, be serving life without parole, assuming they are not facing the death penalty.

Conclusion

As noted by the author of this report, the punishment should fit the crime but the author is willing to concede the death penalty as an option so long as the people committing murders and other execution-worthy crimes are taken off the streets for all time. While the incarceration rates in the United States are alarming in some ways, there are many people that deserve in prison and they should remain there. Of course, people that just possess drugs and are not hurting anyone should not be sent to jail for that as it is a waste of space. Similarly, people that are committing crimes due to mental illness should be treated for their issues. People that are on drugs should be given a fair chance or two to get rehab before they are chucked into the system. However, any situation that involves public safety that requires keeping people in hospitals or prisons should be used so as to protect the public from those that cannot or will not do what is right.

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