Personal Narrative What I Have Learned About the Death Penalty I have learned a substantial amount from the material we have gone over thus far. I didn't really realize how deep the death penalty was and how far it went back. Also I didn't realize that some things that we associate with the death penalty today derived from earlier periods of time, and that the way people think just shows how history repeats itself. What I thought was interesting was that I thought executions didn't start until after the pilgrims and all that I didn't know it went back further than that. I knew that in the earlier times that they lived in a system of theocracy and that not believing in god was punishable and strict laws like that. But its amazing how they had all the other absurd laws they had such as bestiality, and how even today the ridiculous nonhomicidal crimes legislators want to introduce back into the system to be punishable by death. Also what I found interesting was the issue on public hangings, how it was a big party so to speak and all this went on decades ago right here in Amherst. Also it was interesting to learn that young black males commit a big proportion of criminal homicide. I always figured that men committed more criminal homicide then women and that probably a substantial amount would turn out to be African American, because that’s all I really hear in the media. I just wasn’t aware that it was at such young ages that the crimes were being committed. Also what I had absolutely no idea about was the fact that whether your black or white that the substantial amount of executions that have taken place is ones in which the victims were white, and that the racial lines in homicide aren't crossed often. Its kind of sad that more people don't know these facts. I think that the implementation of the death penalty in America has changed but really not that much. I mean back in the day people would be executed for the pettiest crimes ever. I'm pretty sure in today's society some things just won’t find there way back into the system like the death penalty for thievery, or adultery and crimes such as those.
Overall, I feel enlightened by the new information and history I have learned in the past few months and at the museum. I can now embrace and express my Chicano background, knowing my history and make sure we don’t take anything for granted.
In “The Death Penalty” (1985), David Bruck argues that the death penalty is injustice and that it is fury rather than justice that compels others to “demand that murderers be punished” by death. Bruck relies on varies cases of death row inmates to persuade the readers against capital punishment. His purpose is to persuade readers against the death penalty in order for them to realize that it is inhuman, irrational, and that “neither justice nor self-preservation demands that we kill men whom we have already imprisoned.” Bruck does not employ an array of devices but he does employ some such as juxtaposition, rhetorical questions, and appeals to strengthen his argument. He establishes an informal relationship with his audience of supporters of capital punishment such as Mayor Koch.
Early societies were based on a simple code of law: "an eye for an eye
It's dark and cold, the fortress-like building has cinderblock walls, and death lurks around the perimeter. A man will die tonight. Under the blue sky, small black birds gather outside the fence that surrounds the building to flaunt their freedom. There is a gothic feel to the scene, as though you have stepped into a horror movie.
Main Point 1: Imagine someone that has been accused of murder and sentenced to death row has to spend almost 17-20 years in jail and then one day get kill. Then later on the person that they killed was not the right person.
Capital punishment, otherwise known as “The Death Penalty,” has been around for many years and has been the cause of death for over twelve hundred inmates since 1976 (“Death Penalty Information Center”), but is the Death Penalty really beneficial to the American public? This question is in the back of many people’s minds, and has left many questioning the meaning of the punishment. The death penalty targets murderers or high profile cases. Some say that the death penalty should apply to those who murder, rape, or abuse human beings such as children, or women. The significance of the penalty is to teach these criminals that there are laws that must be followed. In a figurative sense, it is to teach those potential wrongdoers a lesson. By examining the facts around us, we can gain a greater sense of security, and a greater understanding of what the death penalty can accomplish, all while assessing the high-quality aspects that the penalty has to offer.
While one person lays with their wrists circumscribed to the worn leather of the gurney, another person holds two skin-piercing needles. The individual holding the needles is an inexperienced technician who obtains permission from the United States federal government to murder people. One needle is held as a precaution in case the pain is too visible to the viewers. Another dagger filled with a lethal dosage of chemicals is inserted into the vein that causes the person to stop breathing. When the cry of the heart rate monitor becomes monotone, the corrupt procedure is complete. Lying in the chair is a corpse when moments ago it was an individual who made one fatal mistake that will never get the chance to redeem (Ecenbarger). Although some people believe that the death
Have you ever wondered why people are so interested to learn about the suffrage of others? Over twenty-five years, the population of prisoners has nearly sextulped. Reaching about 1.7 million since 1996, which is almost equal to the population to Houston, Texas, the fourth largest city in the nation (Elliott Currie). All we focus on is how they did it? and why? In other words, many people interpret crime as entertainment, and don’t think about the negative effects taking place in the world or even more that individual. In some cases the innocent are being accused of unlikely punishment but how do they determine? Considerably, the death penalty has been the topic of discussion these past years. This so called “penalty” is becoming the prime consequence in most cases. I think that the use of the death penalty as punishment is wrong because of the psychological effects it has on prisoners, time spent on death row in cases of innocents, and the costly outcome.
“A Death in Texas” by Steve Earle is the true-life story of a friendship that occurred over ten
The death penalty has been around since the time of Jesus Christ. Executions have been recorded from the 1600s to present times. From about 1620, the executions by year increased in the US. It has been a steady increase up until the 1930s; later the death penalty dropped to zero in the 1970s and then again rose steadily. US citizens said that the death penalty was unconstitutional because it was believed that it was "cruel and unusual" punishment (Amnesty International). In the 1970s, the executions by year dropped between zero and one then started to rise again in the 1980s. In the year 2000, there were nearly one hundred executions in the US (News Batch). On June 29, 1972, the death penalty was suspended because the existing laws were no longer convincing. However, four years after this occurred, several cases came about in Georgia, Florida, and Texas where lawyers wanted the death penalty. This set new laws in these states and later the Supreme Court decided that the death penalty was constitutional under the Eighth Amendment (Amnesty International).
Americans have argued over the death penalty since the early days of our country. In the United States, only 38 states have capital punishment statutes. As of year ended in 1999, in Texas, the state had executed 496 prisoners since 1930. Laws in the United States have changed drastically in regards to capital punishment. An example of this would be the years from 1968 to 1977 due to the nearly 10 year moratorium.
The death penalty has been around for centuries. It dates back to when Hammurabi had his laws codified; it was “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”. Capital punishment in America started when spies were caught, put on trial and hung. In the past and still today people argue that, the death penalty is cruel, unusual punishment and should be illegal. Yet many people argue that it is in fact justifiable and it is not cruel and unusual. Capital punishment is not cruel and unusual; the death penalty is fair and there is evidence that the death penalty deters crime.
Along with these Historians, I also believe that our country was much better off with the death penalty as a punishment for sick and twisted people, murderers, rapists and peadophiles. Did you know for instance that in 2003 there were 1048 murders and 172 attributed to one man. . . Harold Shipman. Compare this to 1963 when the death penalty was used as an active deterant to murder, how many? 300. Three hundred
Some people refer to “Capital Punishment” and the “Death Penalty” as the same concept; whereas others say that the death penalty only refers to the penalty itself, while capital punishment refers to the actual execution. However, these two words are often used interchangeably to refer to the same concept. There is a story about a man named Manny Babbitt who broke into an apartment and killed a 78 year-old woman. Babbitt was in the Marines and was awarded the Purple Heart. Later on, he was diagnosed and suffered with PTSD and schizophrenia. Eventually, he married a lady named Theresa Guertin and had two children. After returning to the states from war, he committed many felonies, like burglaries, and one assault. He committed
Crime is everywhere. Wherever we look, we find criminals and crime. Criminals have become a part of our daily lives. Does this mean we let them be the darkness of our society? No, definitely not. Eliminating crime and criminals is our duty, and we cannot ignore it. Getting the rightly accused to a just punishment is very important. Some criminals commit a crime because they have no other option to survive, but some do it for fun. I do not advocate death penalty for everybody. A person, who stole bread from a grocery store, definitely does not deserve death penalty. However, a serial killer, who kills people for fun or for his personal gain, definitely deserves death penalty. Death penalty should continue in order to eliminate the garbage of our society. Not everybody deserves to die, but some people definitely do. I support death penalty because of several reasons. Firstly, I believe that death penalty serves as a deterrent and helps in reducing crime. Secondly, it is true that death penalty is irreversible, but it is hard to kill a wrongly convicted person due to the several chances given to the convicted to prove his innocence. Thirdly, death penalty assures safety of the society by eliminating these criminals. Finally, I believe in "lex tallionis" - a life for a life.