Capital Punishment - Is the Death Penalty Really a Suitable Form of Retribution?

Capital Punishment - Is the death penalty really a suitable form of retribution?

            In this paper I will be discussing capital punishment in the United States of America and its benefits and its disadvantages. Capital punishment, otherwise known as the "death penalty", is the legally authorized pre-meditated killing of a person as punishment for a crime committed.

            The introduction of the death penalty in America dates as far back as the 1600's and was mainly influenced by Britain. With regards to the constitution, before the 1960s, the amendments were said to permit capital punishment; however, it was seen as "cruel and unusual" punishment thus violating the eighth amendment. Capital punishment in America varies by juries and is authorized by 37 states in America. Consequently, this is more prominent in the state of Texas. Types of capital punishments range from the electric chair to lethal injection. According to a statement titled “In Support of the Death Penalty" issued by George C. Smith, Director of Litigation, Washington Legal Foundation, the support for capital punishment has increased in America, as the crime rate escalated. In 1966, 47% of Americans opposed the death penalty while 42% of Americans were in favor of it. Since the crime rate in the United States has risen, so has the support for capital punishment. In 1986, 80% of Americans were in support of the death penalty while only 17% opposed it, leaving 3% undecided.

The case against the death penalty is almost always made on the ground that society is obliged to protect human life and not take it. People also argue that the death penalty is not required to protect a society's citizens from danger; this can be done by looking up the offenders for life. Arguing against the death penalty, Amnesty International believes that "The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state, in the name of...