Ethical and Historical Analysis of Capital Punishment

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Capital Punishment “[dates] as far back as the Eighteenth Century B.C. in the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon, which codified [Capital Punishment] for 25 different crimes,” so it is no surprise that it is still used today (“Early Death…” 1). In the U.S, Capital Punishment has been legalized in 32 states since 1996. Capital Punishment is not as inhumane as it sounds; it is limited under the 8th amendment in the U.S. Contrary to most beliefs, Capital Punishment is not used on every case of rapists, molesters, or murders, only in cases when necessary. In most states, capital punishment is only used for certain crimes. For example, “Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty for all crimes except treason” (“Early Death…” 1). Later, many other countries from around the world began to abolish capital punishment. However, putting criminals and serial killers on death row and in jail is precarious. Some serial killers have been released and killed again. According to artist Chuck Asay in his “Death Penalty Debate” cartoon, he portrays that “… even more people have been killed by murders who have been allowed to go on living” (Egendorf 61). For example, Ian McLoughlin, in 1992, “was given a life sentence for stabbing a man to death” (Baron 1). Later, McLoughlin was released to “reprise” this horrific crime (Baron 1). After given a second chance, Ian McLoihlin “battered a man to death with a hammer but escaped with a manslaughter conviction and a ten year sentence” (Baron 1). His manslaughter did not sojourn there. In fact, in 1992, McLoughlin was convicted of murder. He continued his murder streak as “he was given another life sentence for murder after targeting an elderly man and then stabbing to death a neighbor who ...

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...sary in US Justice System." The Daily Targum. The Daily Targum, 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 21 May 2014.
"Do Prisoners Have Too Many Comforts, Such as Cable and Internet, While Incarcerated?" The Premier Online Debate Website. Debate.org, n.d. Web. 21 May 2014.
Egendorf, Laura K. The Death Penalty. San Diego, CA.: Greenhaven, 2002. Print.
Flamehorse. "5 Arguments For And Against The Death Penalty - Listverse."Listverse. Listverse, 1 June 2013. Web. 20 May 2014.
Gibson, Kyle. "It's Necessary to Use Capital Punishment In a Free World."PolicyMic. Mic Network Inc, 1 July 2013. Web. 21 May 2014.
"Part I: History of the Death Penalty." DPIC. Death Penalty Information Center. Web. 20 May 2014.
Sharp, Dudley. "Death Penalty Paper." Death Penalty Paper. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2014.
"Top 10 Pros and Cons - Death Penalty - ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

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