The Need for the Death Penalty

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The death penalty has been a topic of debate for many decades. Ever since the death penalty was introduced in the United States in the 1930's, two opposite positions formed almost immediately. There are those who are for the death penalty as an option of punishment, and those who are against the death penalty and want it abolished. Currently, there are 38 states that have a death penalty. The United States Government and Military also have the death penalty as an option of punishment. The death penalty is an important and necessary installment that represents justice and righteousness. Proponents and opponents of the death penalty would both agree that murder is a heinous and brutal act that should be condemned, and people who commit murder should be severely punished. A jail sentence is not the correct form of punishment for a murderer. A murderer should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. The death penalty defends victim's human rights, has a strong deterrent factor, prevents a murderer from committing more crimes, and is the punishment a murderer deserves. The death penalty should be an option of punishment in all states because a murderer does not deserve to live.

The death penalty in America was influenced heavily by Britain. Britain's use of the death penalty dates as far back as the sixteenth century. It is estimated that 72,000 people were executed in Britain, under the rule of King Henry VIII (Death Penalty Information Center). Their methods of execution included hanging, boiling to death, and beheading. Crimes that were punishable by death were lying, treason, and even marriage to someone of the Jewish faith. The death penalty was introduced to America when European settlers came to America. Jamestown colony of Virginia was the site of the first ever-recorded execution in America in 1608. Captain George Kendall was executed for high treason. In 17th century America, crimes that were punishable by death included stealing and trading with Indians (Death Penalty Information Center).

Today in America, the death penalty is still used, but it is used only in extreme cases. Crimes that can be punishable by death include murder, terrorism, and high treason. Methods of execution include lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging, and firing squad (Capital Punishment Statistics). Since 1976, when official records of the death penalty started to be taken, there have been a total of 879 executions, the majority of which occurring in the South (Death Penalty Information Center).

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