Capital Punishment

2 Pages 479 Words

The United States capital punishment rules are embarrassing. Through loopholes
in our government process it would be possible for an innocent 16 year old to be put to death. In many ways capital punishment is a farce and spits in the name of justice. It is wrong to execute people who are innocent, yet sometimes there is a sniff of doubt in the air. Victims of discrimination should not be executed either.
The death penalty proves very costly, to our wallets. Taxpayers shell out 3.1 million dollars in taxes for every execution. Whether or not you agree with capital punishment, you are definitely going to have to pay for it.
It seems as though racism can become a factor in to many cases. An African American male is 6 times more likely to earn a death penalty than a Caucasian. 10 whites since 1976 have been executed for killing African Americans. 60 black people have been put to death for the opposite.
Laws in Texas allow for execution of people who are mentally retarded. This is ridiculous, but as they say “everybody is dumber in Texas.” David Owen Perry was executed in Louisiana, once the state said he was sane long enough to be executed.
Juveniles have been getting executed as well. Although it is prohibited by international laws, the U.S. can come down on someone who was under 18 at the time of their crime. Saudi Arabia and Yemen are the only other countries in the world that do this. One would think the United States would be more civilized then to be put in the same category with two third world countries, but its not. Juveniles have been executed in Texas 13 times and 26 more sit on death row.
Innocent people have also been put to death. An astonishing 350 people have been put to death between the years of 1900 to 1985, many more perhaps in the years following. The US Supreme Court ruled in 1993 that condemned prisoners who have exhausted their appeals but later show innocence do not have the right to...