The death penalty is a very common controversial social issue across our nation. Every time a death penalty case arises, and the time comes for the convict, thousands of people across the nation support the punishment as well as protest the punishment. This issue does not have any proponents of a particular group. People are very split on this subject, regardless of race, background, age, gender, and other variables that distinguish individuals.
             Throughout the extent of time, feelings have changed from one spectrum to the other. In our recent past, people were executed for just stealing a horse. Today on the other hand, it is a totally different story. In recent times, people can commit severe crimes, and can get away with their life and occasionally their freedom. I personally am a proponent of the death penalty. Although I am a non-violent person, I do believe in the "eye for an eye" theory when it comes to murder. There are many people who agree with me, but there are a vast number of people whom don't.
             I, as well as many others, have total confidence in the death penalty. It is a very beneficial component of our justice system. The death penalty saves lives. It saves lives because it stops those who murder from ever murdering again. It also deters potential murderers from ever committing the crime. Unfortunately, the death penalty is rarely used, which is why it isn't nearly as effective as it could be. In order for it to work, we must put it into practice more often. In recent years, crime in America has been on the rise, in particular, violent crime. This has led not only to an overcrowding of prisons in our country, but also to an increase in the number of death sentences handed down by the courts.
             Despite the fact that the number of inmates on death row is climbing, the number of death sentences actually carried out in any given year lags far behind. People simply aren't fearful of the death penalty when it isn'...