DEATH PENALTY Mr.Centeno Government Class NRHS

The Death Penalty, legally known as capital punishment, is the lawful imposition of death as punishment for crimes. It is the act of killing or executing a person who is found guilty of a serious crime, by the government.

Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offenses. The term capital originates from Latin capitalis, literally "regarding the head" (Latin caput). Hence, a capital crime was originally one punished by the severing of the head.

Examples or Methods of Death Penalty Lethal injection Electrocution Lethal gas Hanging Firing squad

Arguments DEATH PENALTY SHOULD BE ABOLISHED - Whether some murderers deserve to die for their crime is generally not an issue in dispute between supporters and opponents of the death penalty. For those against death penalty, there are some arguments: some see it as immoral some see it as only encouraging violence. Some feel that allowing the government the power of life and death is wrong. Only God, should have this power.

DEATH PENALTY MUST BE USED WITH THE UTMOST CARE - In many cases, these people agree in theory that the use of death penalty has the benefit to society by reaching the demands of justice and ensuring that the worst murderers can never kill.

DEATH PENALTY SHOULD NOT BE ABOLISHED - Capital punishment is a just and appropriate punishment for those who commit the most heinous of crimes. It ensures that the murderer will not kill again, provides closure to the people close to the victim.

Pros and Cons of Capital Punishment Reasons FOR Capital Punishment PRISON: The logic for capital punishment is that prisons are for rehabilitating convicts who will eventually leave prison, and therefore prison is not for people who would never be released from prisons alive.

SAFETY: Criminals who receive the death penalty are typically violent individuals. Therefore for the safety of the prison’s guards, other prisoners, and the general public (in case of escape). EXTREME PUNISHMENT: the logic is that the more severe the crime, then the more severe the punishment is necessary.

APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT: it is believed that the punishment of a crime should equal the crime. This is also known as “an eye for an eye”. Reasons AGAINST Capital Punishment PRISON: it is believed that prison is an alternative to executing a person. However, even imprisonment for life with no chance of being free still has issues.

FAIRNESS: the life of the criminal cannot compensate for the crime committed, basically, 2 wrongs do not make a right. WRONGLY CONVICTED: some people executed were proven too late to be wrongly convicted of a crime that they didn’t do.

PLAYING GOD: some people believe that all deaths should be natural. Others believe murder is a part of nature. Reasons FOR and AGAINST Capital Punishment RELIGION: different religions have different beliefs. Example, the Bible clearly states the death penalty as valid and just, yet at the same time murder is

NOT allowed. Since not everyone is of the same religion, the role of religion with death penalty is unclear. MORALITY: the morality of killing a person is also subjective for each person. Throughout the life of an individual, their beliefs and morality can and most likely change.