Today marked another day of execution by lethal injection. John Allen Muhammad, also known as the DC sniper, was put to death for the crimes he committed. The harshest punishment was given to him for gunning down a total of 10 innocent people during a 3 week period around the VA area. His accomplice, Malvo, received a life in prison sentence because he apparently was to young for the death penalty.
Capital punishment is legal in 38 out of 50 states; however, the "crimes punishable by the death penalty" varies from state to state. Personally, I think that the death penalty should be legal in all 50 states. Each state should have the right to punish those found guilty of pre-meditated murder. This political debate should continue to exist despite the pros and cons. The victims who suffer and continue to suffer for their loss should have the right to help determine the sentencing and the law should ensure that the victim's recommendation is suitable for the crime committed.
It is unbearable to think of losing a family member due to a reckless murder. For those who are against the death penalty for the simple reason that killing is wrong, well isn't that a little ironic that capital punishment is killing a murderer? It's almost like an "eye for an eye." People who violently kill someone other then self defense should not have the right to live.
2 comments:
I'm going to build on the comments I gave to you in your other post. You have great hyperlinks here: I'd now like to see you develop these discussions not only through the link but in your text as well.
So--what's the range in crimes punishable by the death penalty? Is it reasonable? Are there any crimes punishable by the death penalty in the U.S. that are not affiliated with premeditated murder?
Finally, and to offer a kernel of debate: what about the statistics that show that black-on-white criminals get the death penalty at a much higher rate than white-on-black criminals? What about those who are potentially innocent (eyewitness evidence being what it is)? I recently heard about a Texas case in which there have been plenty of people on death row but have eventually been found innocent? (See http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/innocence-and-death-penalty).
This is an interesting topic. If it appeals to you, explore it even further!
I agree with you that the death penalty should be legal in all 50 states. Why should it be okay for someone to murder another and get away with it (by life in prison or any other less sentence) in one state but not in one who allows the death penalty? I remember the sniper incident and it was scary to live through something like that. I was still in high school which is right off the highway on Courthouse road in Stafford. I remember we were on lockdown because they thought they had spotted the sniper close by. I can't imagine what it would have been like to have personally known someone who was a victim in that case. I think the sniper got what he deserved. If that had happened in a state that doesnt allow the death penatly he would have probably just gotten life in prison. I dont think the families of the victims would have felt justice was served if that was the case.
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