Death Penalty
1. I have chosen NO. Not because I think the crimes committed will never go away in fact I think murders and paedophiles etc. get let off way too easily and the person will never change ever in anyone’s eyes. But the death penalty sends a wrong message towards people. Why would anyone kill someone who has killed people to show that killing is wrong in any manner? Some people say that the death penalty is an easy way out for the crimes they have committed and they should pay for it by serving there time in jail. I agree with as life in prison is a worse punishment and a more effective deterrent.
2. Some jury members are reluctant to convict if it means death. The prisoner's family must suffer from seeing their loved one put to death by the state, as well as going through the crime they have committed. Also a very interesting point is that the possibility that innocent men and women may be put to death because of people going about like idiots. Although I think that its fair mentally ill patients should be put to death as they are never going to change who they are or what they do.
3. The death penalty also creates sympathy for horrible people who make these crimes. The "eye for an eye" mentality will never solve any problems. Revenge leads to a constant repeat cycle of violence. Big gang violence in this country never seems to end. The death penalty has a message of “you killed one of us so now we kill one of you in revenge” The state is using a murder to punish someone who committed a murder. This does not make sense. It is also seen as an easy way out for the crime they have committed instead of doing their time in prison that they are meant to do. The death sentence their suffering is over in an instant. With life in prison their pain goes on for a longtime. They are sent to a cage and live in an internal environment of rape, violence and everything else that they have done. They are basically treated as animals. Do you think they'd rather suffer the humiliation of life long prison or be given a death sentence. Many Death row were convicted while being defended by court lawyers who are often the worst-paid and most inexperienced and the least skilful lawyers. And few states pay their state appointed lawyers well enough to retain competent effective lawyers.
