Capital Punishment: Right or Wrong?

Capital Punishment Right or Wrong?

Capital Punishment is one of the most controversial topics in the history of the U.S. It has been argued upon throughout the history of U.S. and is still a topic of discussion. Early history showed that people would and could be executed for little crimes. Some people believe that murderers lost their right to life when taking someone else's life. But others argue what makes us better than them when we take their lives? Most arguments on either side fall back on moral, religious, or personal beliefs, making the topic that much controversial.

In the colonial days of America almost every execution was held publicly and most of them were extremely brutal, these were meant to be a warning to all the people. But it was like these executions were more like a festival, men would drink and there were often stalls set up where people could buy food and souvenirs. Many executions were given to people who only committed petty crimes and not anything like homicide. But overtime the death penalty was often only carried out for serious crimes and most people were executed by hanging which seemed like the most humane of executions during the time. Even though the founding fathers accepted the death penalty there were still many who opposed and in Philadelphia there was a proposal of a house of reform, it would help criminals to change their behavior and would be detained there until they were deemed safe for release. In 1846 Maine became the first state to abolish all public executions, for the last one that was held brought over ten thousand people and they grew so unruly police had to intervene. It was also seen that the threat of the death penalty in the showing of public executions didn't stop peopl...

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...d as an example for others, like a warning. Capital punishment trials were very biased against minorities and were mostly unfair against the mentally will. Where someone stands on this topics usually depends on their moral beliefs, and religious beliefs. This is where I stand but what about you?

Works Cited

Associated Press. To execute or not: A question of cost? 3 April 2009. 1 December 2013 .

Dixon, Garret. Capital Punishment. 30 November 2013 .

Evans, Kim. Capital Punishment Cruel and Unusual? Information Plus, 2010.

Stull, Brian. Death Penalty Maintains Racial Inequality. 23 January 2009. 1 December 2013 .