Sam-The Eighth Amendment ways have always been changed and interpreted throughout years. To begin with the Thompson v. Oklahoma case. Thompson, who was 15 participated in a brutal murder. He was then tried as an adult, and was ruled for the death sentence. However, it was then overturned since he was 15. So the court then deemed that capital punishment can’t be given to anyone under the age of 16 no matter what the crime is. Basically the Eighth Amendment was interpreted to have that no one under the age of 16 shall have the death sentence in the United States since it a cruel punishment to give to a minor. In addition, the next evidence brings up Penry v. Lynaugh. Johnny Paul Penry was a mentally disabled person who had the mental age of 7. …show more content…
Why or why not?
Adrina Each state have their own laws about capital punishment. Even some that go against the Federal Government. So, for having the state pick the decision on capital punishment should be up to the state and not to the Federal Government. Most of the states do agree with the death penalty to be precise 31 agree to it. So, 19 states disagree with the death penalty. So for the federal government to come in a change that will cause some effects happen. A good side of stopping capital punishment is that the drugs that are being used are expensive and there is a shortage. Plus it expensive to get the needed drugs. Though if it continue to happen then the shortage will increase. Making the government haft to find another way to end the person life. Keeping in mind that the new way can't be cruel and that the new way could cost more. Another con is as a country we already have a overpopulated prison system. To look at it both sides have it pros and cons. So they should just have the state still decide on their opinions on capital punishment. Then for us to all do it and waste more money on a punishment that we rarely doing. Briefly it will be the best to have the states decided on the matter of capital punishment. Since it will lead to more controversy and something bad either way. It not worth