An eye for eye; perhaps the most well-known concept of punishment known to man. The concept can be traced back to the time of the ancient Babylon with the installment of the first laws created by King Hammurabi. From then on, for centuries this idea has been used to punish those who commit crimes. Some of history’s most heinous crimes were brought to justice by the use of torture or capital punishment; quartering, stoning to death, hanging, the use of the guillotine, etc. It is anecdotal evidence, taken from observing historical events, that this has been a fitting punishment for murders and serious crimes; but looking into the 20th century this idea is beginning to be frowned upon today by many people. Does killing someone who took the life of another really “cross out” what was done? Would you trust your government to take the life of others without taking the lives of those who are innocent?
Thirty-four of the fifty states in the United States use the death penalty, Texas and Virginia having the highest number of executions since 1976. The death penalty is used on those who commit serious murders or mass amount of murders, such as serial killings. Families of victims argue that this brings them peace of mind to know that their loved one’s killer has paid the ultimate price for their actions. Others argue that, though, this may bring peace of mind, this is not the answer and it’s not humane and/or moral. The anesthetics used for lethal injection are sodium thiopental, pancuronium promide, and potassium chloride; despite the fact sodium thiopental is used to induce unconsciousness, some still believe that if not enough is given the person may be awake and may experience pain until the 30 seconds after the potassium chloride is added to stop the heart. This would make it inhumane and against the constitution because it could be said that it would go under “cruel and unusual punishment”.
Sure, the concept of “an eye for an eye” makes sense but I argue that it does have flaws. Two wrongs do not make a right; killing someone for murder does not solve the issue or bring complete closure to it. If anything, the death penalty merely provides an escape for the murderer instead of spending their life in a prison suffering for what they’ve done. Keeping someone in prison without parole does cost the state a lot and means less open space in state prisons but, at the same time, lethal injections cost the state too. Either way our taxes are being paid towards both. Aside from that, let’s not forgot the possibility of being wrongfully accused and wrongfully executed. Wrongful accusation occurs frequently, maybe not as much anymore due to advances in technology, but it still happens. People are sometimes put in prison for something they’ve never done. Have you ever wondered how many people are wrongfully executed? It is hypothesized that eight inmates in the past have been wrongfully executed, while more than fifteen people on death row have been released after being proven innocent.
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