Should Murder Be Punishable by Death?
The enforcement of the death penalty has always been a
controversial topic in America. The death penalty dates
back to the fourteenth century. Although, in America the
death penalty was not used until 1608 in Virginia. It was
brought to the Americans by the European settlers when they
came to the new world. Their influence of capital
punishment was so strong that America was using the death
penalty more than any other country. If enforced, the death
penalty will reduce crime rate by removing the chance of
repeat killings and by deterring violence.
Although it may seem that the majority of Americans are
against the death penalty, it is just the opposite.
Historically, support of the death penalty has been favored
by Americans for over two decades. Seven out of ten
Americans are for the death penalty for criminals convicted
of murder. In 1987, Gary Gilmore shot two gas station
attendants, and when Americans were polled on whether they
thought the death penalty should be used or not, 62%
supported the death penalty in this case. Also, 64% of
Americans supported the death penalty with Timothy McVeigh,
the suspect in the Oklahoma City bombing. One of the more
recent polls taken also show that now 71% of voters favor
I believe capital punishment is a good way to deter
violence. It removes the chance of repeat murders through
execution. Ernest van den Haag, a professor of
Jurisprudence at Fordham University, says,
Even though statistical demonstrations
are not conclusive, and perhaps cannot
anything else. They fear most death
scheduled by the courts ("Deterrence").
If murderers are sentenced to death, then potential
murderers may think twice before killing for fear of losing
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