Lawmakers and Voters Question the Use of Capital Punishment

Written by: Kelly L. Hunter

Lawmakers and voters are now questioning whether or not we should use capital punishment as a means to punish death row inmates. I for one am in favor of capital punishment. However, I feel that lethal injection is too mild of a punishment for career murders, rapists, and child molesters. I feel that the punishments for these crimes should be more severe since some studies have shown that capital punishment does not seem to keep individuals from committing these awful acts of crime. Many people and religious groups feel that since God is quoted in the bible as saying, “He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.”, that we should keep this kind of punishment in practice. And although I agree, it seems that some of the people in today’s society want to put God’s word into any topic of controversy. The unfortunate part is that there are too many people of different religious backgrounds that reside in this country to base our laws completely on that of the Christian belief.
According to reports, there has been an estimated 13,000 people that have been executed since the colonial era. The Supreme Court banned capital punishment in the year of 1972 and authorized the resumption of this practice 4 years later, in the year of 1976. Studies indicate that DNA testing has shown that over 100 inmates, who were on death row awaiting executions, were innocent. Studies have also indicated that the majority of people executed were poor, and an estimated 90% of these people were unable to afford council and had no choice but to rely on court appointed lawyers. It makes you wonder how many innocent people were put to death before DNA testing played a roll in our justice system. I still do not believe that this should detour us from using capital punishment as a means to punish deserving criminals. I think that this simply shows that our justice system needs a lot of improving; and more DNA testing needs to be done during these trials to insure that the defendant is indeed guilty of the accused crime.
In Canada, the practice of capital punishment no longer exists; although the countries population is still in favor of it. Some Canadian public opinion polls show that an estimated 70% or more of adult individuals are for the return of public hanging for people who commit first degree murder. In most cases under Canadian law, the most serious offenders are handed a sentence of life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years. And although most Americans are in favor of the death penalty; when given an option, they would also rather see criminals get life in prison without parole. It is my personal belief that we should not have to spend our tax dollars housing, feeding, or clothing guilty death row inmates. And it is common knowledge that criminals still have access to drugs and alcohol while incarcerated. Along with drugs and alcohol, they also have the means to receive an education as well as outdoor activities. People who commit murder, rape, or molest children, should not be allowed to do anything other than suffer just as their victims and their families had to suffer. I say, get rid of lethal injection and make capital punishment actual punishment instead of a sleepy time cocktail that you happen to not wake up from.