Most people view the death penalty as unjust and inhumane. Yes, it may be, when the wrong person is accused of the crime. But what if someone close to you was murdered? Wouldn't you ask for the death penalty on that person if it was legal in the state the crime happened? I asked a few people that question and all but one said that they would wish for the penalty on the person. I feel that the death penalty is only acceptable for major crimes like murder. "Treat people how they want to be treated" is a saying that goes hand-in-hand with my belief.
For some reason, people still feel that the death penalty is unacceptable in all cases. A lot of it has to do with religion. Some religious people feel that no one has the right to take someone else's life except God Himself. But one person I interviewed stated that it is acceptable to kill someone of sin because it is stated in the bible.
The U.S., Japan, and China are the only advanced countries today that still have the death penalty. In the U.S., the death penalty is by lethal injection of a painless poison. In Japan, hanging is still in effect. And in China, they execute more people than any other country in the world. Some people feel that it makes those countries hypocritical when it comes to class.
Racism is also a big problem concerning the death penalty. According to the Death Penalty Information Center [http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=539&scid=45#Appendix], African Americans face the death penalty more than any other race in the U.S. I think this is wrong. Whatever happened to "All men are created equal"? Anyone who deserves the death penalty should face it equally.
The death penalty should be used only on people who are a major threat to society. The penalty keeps society in check and I feel that people just disagree with the death penalty because killing is killing. But what if a mass murderer escaped from prison and killed again? Or if he killed someone in prison? Locking him or her up wouldn't be good enough to keep people safe.
Do you still think the penalty is unjust? I don't think it is if you have a good reason to pass the sentence on. Of course you shouldn't pass the penalty on to someone who robbed a bank or beat up someone. So, just think about my view on the death penalty and see if you still go completely against it.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Survey
1.) Do you feel that the death penalty is acceptable for major crimes?
Person 1:
No, not acceptable.
Person 2:
Yes, mostly murder, torture, rape.
Person 3:
Yes, but only for bad murder, rape, and slaughter.
Person 4:
Yes, if you murdered somebody. You should die as well. You shouldn't have the right to end someone's life. Let karma do it's thing.
Person 5:
No, no one has the right to take anyone's life. An eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind.
2.) To you, is the death penalty "unjust and inhumane"?
Person 1:
Yes, it is unjust and inhumane.
Person 2:
Only if they've got the wrong guy.
Person 3:
It is inhumane for us to kill another, but I don't believe it to be unjust depending on the extent of the crime.
Person 4:
No, they get what they deserve.
Person 5:
It's unjust, if someone kills someone and they get the death penalty, but when someone goes to jail for beating up someone they don't get beat up as their punishment.
3.) If someone murdered someone close to you, God forbid, would you wish the death penalty on them?
Person 1:
I'd like to think I wouldn't, but chances are yes, I would.
Person 2:
Yes.
Person 3:
Probably, depends on the situation and how I felt towards that person.
Person 4:
Yes, even if they weren't close to me.
Person 5:
No, I could never wish death on someone.
4.) Do you believe that murderers should be punished with death since they killed someone?
Person 1:
Not necessarily because they are obviously troubled and need help.
Person 2:
Depends.
Person 3:
Only if their reasoning is not justified.
Person 4:
Yeah.
Person 5:
No.
5.) Do you think the death penalty is unreligious? If so, why?
Person 1:
Yes, no one has the right to take someone's life.
Person 2:
Nope.
Person 3:
I personally don't think religion has anything to do with it.
Person 4:
I don't know. I don't know much about religion.
Person 5:
Depends on your religion but for most, I think it is unreligious because most religions your not supposed to take a life.
6.) The U.S. and Japan are the only advanced countries today that still have the death penaly. How do you feel about that?
Person 1:
I believe it is wrong. A life sentence is better and has better morals.
Person 2:
I don't feel anything about it.
Person 3:
We are smart!
Person 4:
Wowzers. Way to go? Good for them? I don't know.
Person 5:
Most of the time I don't agree with what they do. So I don't agree.
7.) The current death penalty in the U.S. is lethal injection and the criminal doesn't feel a thing when they die. Do you think this is unfair to the victims,
especially if they were murdered brutally?
Person 1:
I think it's unfair but should be done that way anyways because we shouldn't become what we fear.
Person 2:
No, then it's just revenge. I guess it depends on if you want justice or revenge. There is a hot debate concerning this.
Person 3:
No, for the death is equal exchange causing them pain would just be lowering ourselves to their level.
Person 4:
No. If done otherwise it will be cruel. They already have to deal with a guilty conscience which is torturing as it is.
Person 5:
Yes, the death penalty isn't justice it's about revenge.
Person 1:
No, not acceptable.
Person 2:
Yes, mostly murder, torture, rape.
Person 3:
Yes, but only for bad murder, rape, and slaughter.
Person 4:
Yes, if you murdered somebody. You should die as well. You shouldn't have the right to end someone's life. Let karma do it's thing.
Person 5:
No, no one has the right to take anyone's life. An eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind.
2.) To you, is the death penalty "unjust and inhumane"?
Person 1:
Yes, it is unjust and inhumane.
Person 2:
Only if they've got the wrong guy.
Person 3:
It is inhumane for us to kill another, but I don't believe it to be unjust depending on the extent of the crime.
Person 4:
No, they get what they deserve.
Person 5:
It's unjust, if someone kills someone and they get the death penalty, but when someone goes to jail for beating up someone they don't get beat up as their punishment.
3.) If someone murdered someone close to you, God forbid, would you wish the death penalty on them?
Person 1:
I'd like to think I wouldn't, but chances are yes, I would.
Person 2:
Yes.
Person 3:
Probably, depends on the situation and how I felt towards that person.
Person 4:
Yes, even if they weren't close to me.
Person 5:
No, I could never wish death on someone.
4.) Do you believe that murderers should be punished with death since they killed someone?
Person 1:
Not necessarily because they are obviously troubled and need help.
Person 2:
Depends.
Person 3:
Only if their reasoning is not justified.
Person 4:
Yeah.
Person 5:
No.
5.) Do you think the death penalty is unreligious? If so, why?
Person 1:
Yes, no one has the right to take someone's life.
Person 2:
Nope.
Person 3:
I personally don't think religion has anything to do with it.
Person 4:
I don't know. I don't know much about religion.
Person 5:
Depends on your religion but for most, I think it is unreligious because most religions your not supposed to take a life.
6.) The U.S. and Japan are the only advanced countries today that still have the death penaly. How do you feel about that?
Person 1:
I believe it is wrong. A life sentence is better and has better morals.
Person 2:
I don't feel anything about it.
Person 3:
We are smart!
Person 4:
Wowzers. Way to go? Good for them? I don't know.
Person 5:
Most of the time I don't agree with what they do. So I don't agree.
7.) The current death penalty in the U.S. is lethal injection and the criminal doesn't feel a thing when they die. Do you think this is unfair to the victims,
especially if they were murdered brutally?
Person 1:
I think it's unfair but should be done that way anyways because we shouldn't become what we fear.
Person 2:
No, then it's just revenge. I guess it depends on if you want justice or revenge. There is a hot debate concerning this.
Person 3:
No, for the death is equal exchange causing them pain would just be lowering ourselves to their level.
Person 4:
No. If done otherwise it will be cruel. They already have to deal with a guilty conscience which is torturing as it is.
Person 5:
Yes, the death penalty isn't justice it's about revenge.
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