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“Most people approve of Capital Punishment, but most people wouldn’t do the hangman’s job” (George Orwell). Would you want to be the one to pull the trigger on the criminal? Even if he is really a criminal does that change the fact that he is a human being? Does that make it our duty as humans to make that choice? In the United States, thirty-five states allow Capital Punishment, also commonly known as the death penalty. That leaves only fifteen states that have come to realize how it is morally, logically, and economically wrong. The government’s beliefs and purposes are very convincing, but it still doesn’t change the fact that this form of punishment is cruel. It doesn’t fulfill its purpose as a form of punishment. It also goes against the 8th amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Money has its way with this world; it is profoundly cheaper to let a prisoner serve their life sentence than to sentence them to death. There are many beliefs and opinions to what is right and wrong in this world, and religion plays a major role in this point of judgment. In consideration, I believe the death penalty holds true to be immorally and humanely wrong, and I strongly believe it should be abolished.
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“Most people approve of Capital Punishment, but most people wouldn’t do the hangman’s job” (George Orwell). Would you want to be the one to pull the trigger on the criminal? Even if he is really a criminal does that change the fact that he is a human being? Does that make it our duty as humans to make that choice? In the United States, thirty-five states allow Capital Punishment, also commonly known as the death penalty. That leaves only fifteen states that have come to realize how it is morally, logically, and economically wrong. The government’s beliefs and purposes are very convincing, but it still doesn’t change the fact that this form of punishment is cruel. It doesn’t fulfill its purpose as a form of punishment. It also goes against the 8th amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Money has its way with this world; it is profoundly cheaper to let a prisoner serve their life sentence than to sentence them to death. There are many beliefs and opinions to what is right and wrong in this world, and religion plays a major role in this point of judgment. In consideration, I believe the death penalty holds true to be immorally and humanely wrong, and I strongly believe it should be abolished.3
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The government has giving reasons for the death penalty; it just hasn’t lived up to its purpose. One reason for the death penalty is purely for the justice of the victims. Another reason is to try to prevent people from committing crimes (Capital Punishment). Although this is true the death penalty hasn’t done this in any way. It fact, most states that allow the death penalty, have higher crime rates than those that don’t (pros of capital punishment). Therefore, the death penalty isn’t pursuing its purpose. It also goes against the 8th amendment of the constitution which prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments (The US Consititution). The Supreme Court doesn’t consider the death penalty a cruel or unusual form of punishment, but many people argue this point. Killing someone other than for self-defense is considered cruel, that’s why the United States has created many ways to control it. The world revolves around money and it is a serious issue when it comes to the death penalty.
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The government has giving reasons for the death penalty; it just hasn’t lived up to its purpose. One reason for the death penalty is purely for the justice of the victims. Another reason is to try to prevent people from committing crimes (Capital Punishment). Although this is true the death penalty hasn’t done this in any way. It fact, most states that allow the death penalty, have higher crime rates than those that don’t (pros of capital punishment). Therefore, the death penalty isn’t pursuing its purpose. It also goes against the 8th amendment of the constitution which prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments (The US Consititution). The Supreme Court doesn’t consider the death penalty a cruel or unusual form of punishment, but many people argue this point. Killing someone other than for self-defense is considered cruel, that’s why the United States has created many ways to control it. The world revolves around money and it is a serious issue when it comes to the death penalty.4
Money is always the center of attention in many situations. With the death penalty money truly shows its color. In the state of California ninety thousand dollars per inmate is spent on the death penalty alone. Only nearly twenty thousand dollars are spent per inmate to stay in prison (Cost of The Death Penalty). The difference is enormous and almost hard to believe. The state of California is nearly in debt, so why are they wasting their money on things they don’t necessarily need when there are other options to consider? For instance, using the money to build more prisons or paying for more guards for bigger prisons. According to Police Chief James Abbott of West Orange, N.J., says the state of New Jersey spent two-hundred and fifty million dollars on death penalty-related expenses over twenty-five years “with nothing to show for it,” and added that New Jersey’s murder rate has dropped since capital punishment was abolished. It is also using the money from our taxpayers, which is considering as the least efficient use of taxpayer money (‘Waste of Money’). Statistics show the differences in money and the result of the death penalty just doesn’t fit like it was truly meant to. There are many other points to consider although. The religious views can make a difference to Christians or believers.
Money is always the center of attention in many situations. With the death penalty money truly shows its color. In the state of California ninety thousand dollars per inmate is spent on the death penalty alone. Only nearly twenty thousand dollars are spent per inmate to stay in prison (Cost of The Death Penalty). The difference is enormous and almost hard to believe. The state of California is nearly in debt, so why are they wasting their money on things they don’t necessarily need when there are other options to consider? For instance, using the money to build more prisons or paying for more guards for bigger prisons. According to Police Chief James Abbott of West Orange, N.J., says the state of New Jersey spent two-hundred and fifty million dollars on death penalty-related expenses over twenty-five years “with nothing to show for it,” and added that New Jersey’s murder rate has dropped since capital punishment was abolished. It is also using the money from our taxpayers, which is considering as the least efficient use of taxpayer money (‘Waste of Money’). Statistics show the differences in money and the result of the death penalty just doesn’t fit like it was truly meant to. There are many other points to consider although. The religious views can make a difference to Christians or believers.5
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Although, religion is mainly based on opinion and is a huge argument in the United States, it still has many legit points to consider. First, who has the right to do Gods will and say who shall live and who shall die? Are we trying to play God? The 6th commandment in the Bible states, “Thou shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13). It doesn’t say unless thou have killed or if thou have raped. It boldly says not to do it. God is the fighter of evil and when judgment day comes the criminal will get the punishment he deserves. “All have sinned fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). That Bible verse states all that have sinned fall short in the glory of God, not just some. People misunderstand God’s word and most people misinterpret good and bad. Also like the story “He who is without sin cast the first stone.” This story is about a woman who is caught in the act of adultery. The men who caught her sinning brought her to Jesus wanting to stone her for what she had done. Jesus simply replied to the men, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.” Jesus didn’t condemn the women because the men who brought her were hypocrites. Therefore, strong believers know the people who pull the trigger on these criminals are doing the same thing the criminals are found guilty for. They are hypocrites, in other words. They are trying to form justice, but in God’s eyes they are doing the exact opposite. Nothing states a stronger point on Capital Punishment than religion.
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Although, religion is mainly based on opinion and is a huge argument in the United States, it still has many legit points to consider. First, who has the right to do Gods will and say who shall live and who shall die? Are we trying to play God? The 6th commandment in the Bible states, “Thou shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13). It doesn’t say unless thou have killed or if thou have raped. It boldly says not to do it. God is the fighter of evil and when judgment day comes the criminal will get the punishment he deserves. “All have sinned fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). That Bible verse states all that have sinned fall short in the glory of God, not just some. People misunderstand God’s word and most people misinterpret good and bad. Also like the story “He who is without sin cast the first stone.” This story is about a woman who is caught in the act of adultery. The men who caught her sinning brought her to Jesus wanting to stone her for what she had done. Jesus simply replied to the men, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.” Jesus didn’t condemn the women because the men who brought her were hypocrites. Therefore, strong believers know the people who pull the trigger on these criminals are doing the same thing the criminals are found guilty for. They are hypocrites, in other words. They are trying to form justice, but in God’s eyes they are doing the exact opposite. Nothing states a stronger point on Capital Punishment than religion. 6
Capital Punishment is truly a waste of time and money. It doesn’t fulfill its purpose and it goes against the United States Constitution. It has been proven that it doesn’t improve the crime rate in many states. It has a huge conflict with religion and God. It has created more problems with itself than it has fixed the problems it was created for. It has wasted more money than it is worth. Nothing about the death penalty is fit to be necessary. It doesn’t stand its ground and is a problem that can be easily prohibited. In the end, would you now still want to be the one to pull the trigger?
Capital Punishment is truly a waste of time and money. It doesn’t fulfill its purpose and it goes against the United States Constitution. It has been proven that it doesn’t improve the crime rate in many states. It has a huge conflict with religion and God. It has created more problems with itself than it has fixed the problems it was created for. It has wasted more money than it is worth. Nothing about the death penalty is fit to be necessary. It doesn’t stand its ground and is a problem that can be easily prohibited. In the end, would you now still want to be the one to pull the trigger?
I agree with you in this paragraph. I think you should ask a question like, will God punish the person that has control over the death penalty even though it’s their job?
i like your paper. i’m with you on this. Capital Punishment is no going to solve the issue. and how can a victim feel good after a person is dead for commiting a crime, even though they was wrong. that’s why God said, “forgive and forget”.
I like this paragraph. Is really good i really like the part where its says who has the right to do God’s will. He obviously made his commandments, like thou shall not kill, for a reason and I think in the end everyone will truly end up getting what they deserve.
Thank you! I completely agree with you. Thanks for your honesty & opinion.
At times I can see where Americans can be a little cruel when it comes to capital punishment, but in some case’s i believe that killing them is letting them off to easy. I think that we should keep capital punishment more for a symbol to all criminals that if you do decide to do something that crosses the line this is what s going to happen
I can see where capital punishment can be a little cruel, but i also believe that it is useful mainly to the fact that it lets criminals know what happens when they cross the line
We should not take the life from ones who take the life of others. Although that is how we feel at times it should not be done. Plus who are we to judge. Until you have no faults yourself then I think that you have the right to judge but if not then while you are pointing one finger at someone three other fingers are pointing right back at yourself.
You might want to remind the reader about the content of the 8th amendment. The sentence that begins with “money” seems to need some sort of transition. How did you get from the 8th amendment to the cost of housing prisoners?
You make a really good point about states with the death penalty having higher crime rates than those that don’t. The last sentence mentions money again. What’s the connection between the death penalty and money? I think the reader will be confused.