Benefits Of Abolishing The Death Penalty

The death penalty, also known as the capital punishment, dates all the way back to the eighteenth century B.C. (“Death Penalty”). Initially, the death penalty began with beheading, boiling, burying, and burning (“Death Penalty”). In today’s time, it generally consists of electrocution or lethal injection. Many of the accused that suffered these fates were innocent due to the unfair trials and assumptions of the judge and jury (“Death Penalty”). This ancient punishment is still involved in today’s society, and needs to be removed. Men and women are being taken from their families for their actions they didn’t commit while convicted killers are being killed for killing. The amount of innocent men and women being men and women being killed on …show more content…
Supporters of the capital punishment may argue that the penalty rids dangerous criminals from the streets. Therefore, the amount of crime will decrease. However, the death penalty gives criminals an easy way out of the actions they committed. Although the death penalty has not been proven to increase or decrease crime, it can be argued that it does not lower the amount of crime. According to the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, “Scientific studies have consistently failed to demonstrate that executions deter people from committing crime” (Parks). Criminals are able to commit these actions, knowing they will be put on death row, only to have their life ended painlessly. If the death penalty was removed from law, criminals would fear living their remaining life in prison, never knowing when or how they will suffer behind bars. Supporters of the death penalty may also claim that it is a fair and just punishment to deserving criminals. There is currently a debate regarding whether or not the United States believes that this penalty is unconstitutional. In the constitution, more specifically the eighth amendment, it states, “excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted” (Parks). Killing a man for his actions falls under the category of an unusual punishment which defies the constitution. Not only does it defy the constitution, but it also should defy our human morals. What makes it right for a man to kill a man for his actions? In reality, the person who kills the criminal on the death row is no better than the man awaiting death. If the government wants to prove that killing is wrong, then why are we enforcing an unjust punishment that results in the killing of a