The Pros And Cons Of The Death Penalty

Register to read the introduction… “If the government prohibits these barbaric acts, why do they get away with the death penalty,” (Kronenwetter, 2001)? “Who are they to kill to other men, when they are killing the men, for killing other men,” (Mitchell, 2001)? “Is killing a guilty person any different than killing an innocent person?” “Does the death penalty apply to mentally retarded people,” (Kronenwetter, 2001)? “Is the purpose of the death penalty to remove from society someone who would do more harm?” “Is the purpose to remove someone who is incapable of being rehabilitated?” “Is the purpose to frighten people from committing murder?” “Is the purpose to punish the criminals?” “Is the purpose of the death penalty to take retribution on behalf of the victim,” (Bedau, 1997)? The posed questions lead to the ongoing controversy of the death penalty. The many revisions of the death penalty laws are due to the few people that asked these questions, and supported their moral values in a court house (Kronenwetter, …show more content…
A man named Oliver Cruz is on death row for raping and murdering a woman and the prosecutor reasoned that “Mr. Cruz’s lack of intellect makes him more dangerous,” which is why the mentally retarded Mr. Cruz is scheduled to receive death by lethal injection in the state of Texas (Death Penalty Information Center, 2010). Many states across the country are revising their laws about capital punishment to set limits for criminals with special needs and how to punish mentally impaired law breakers (Kronenwetter, 2001). According to the American Civil Liberties Union, some believe the mentally ill convicts should be exempt from the death penalty and be forced to live in an asylum until they die (American Civil Liberties Union, 2011). However, the financial burden of housing the mentally impaired for their lifetime is too great for the states to handle on top of the other financial responsibilities (Kronenwetter, …show more content…
The true purpose of the death penalty is the most elusive detail about capital punishment, covering all insisted intents stated from the past defenders of the death penalty. There are many well built cases both supporting and attempting to abolish the death penalty. Habeas Corpus was written in order to solve the problems of wrongful imprisonment. Along with Habeas Corpus, counsel for the poor was also added in order to ensure that only lawful imprisonment takes place. Also, the counsel for the poor was added so that the wrong person does not receive the death penalty for not knowing how to defend oneself in a court of law (Bedau,