Capital Punishment

4 Pages 1032 Words

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Capital punishment is the ultimate penalty for a committed crime and is a major issue in American society today. “More than 100 countries have abolished the death penalty and the USA, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Iran continue to be the most prolific executioners in the world” (Derechos 1). Even though large groups of people consider it wrong and make a big commotion over the whole principle, it is still legal and is the punishment in some serious crimes. Some people against the death penalty like Coretta King say, “An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation. Justice is never advanced in the taking of human life. Morality is never upheld by legalized murder” (Amnestyusa 2). Others like George Ryan, Governor of Illinois, say, “I don’t see who could be against it, frankly” (Dailynews 1).
The death penalty has been around since the Colonial times in America. In 1608 James Kendall was the first colonist to be executed in the New World (Closeup 1). In this time there were 14 offenses that the death penalty was accountable for (Closeup 1). In 1682 William Penn’s act limited capital punishment to only murder and treason (Closeup 1). In 1788 the U.S. Constitution was ratified, helping protect any future death row inmates (Closeup2). Among these amendments were the Fifth Amendment, which provides the defendant with the due process of law in the federal courts; the Sixth Amendment, which provides for a fair and speedy trial; and the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishments (Closeup 2). When the eighth amendment said no cruel or unusual punishment it was talking of punishments, in ages before the constitution, such as boiling a prisoner alive in oil or burning them at the stake (Facts 2). Death in these times was in no way considered cruel for serious crimes (Facts 2).
Even though this punishment has been around for so long only thirty-eigh...