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Argumentative Essay: Death Penalty In The United States

2153 Words9 Pages

Meaonka Hadden
Stewart
Mrs. Stewart
18 Sep 2014
Death Penalty
The United States is one of seven countries that still use capital punishment. Among the United States, there is Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen, China, and North Korea. The U.S. is known for calling out these countries for their inhumane ways of living. However, the U.S is on the same level as these other countries. The death penalty has been one of the things that has divided this country for decades. Everyone has their own side and a reason why they chose it. Capital punishment should be abolished in every state of the United States because there are dozens of flaws with the system, the cost is millions more than life in prison, the time on death row is so long that the majority …show more content…

Capital punishment in no way is fast or certain. Starting with just the jury it could take months. It takes 16 times longer to select a capital murder case jury (Lain). The appeals process is even longer. If an inmate files for an appeal it could take years for the individual to be given an attorney (Banks). On average the process of appeal last around 25 years (Carter). Drugs for lethal injection are a problem and takes up time as well. States are looking for alternatives for execution. It is becoming harder to get the drugs needed for execution. It is harder to get the supplies because countries are starting to not give them to us knowing the reason that it is used for (Carter). Then the biggest time taker of them all is just execution not being used often. The majority of inmates who are put on death row end up dying of natural causes (Carter). In 1989 a man was sent to death row for killing 13 people and mocking them in court. After 17 years he got his appeal. After 24 years on death row he died of cancer (Banks). Capital punishment states intend well but don’t follow through. California has only used its execution rights 11 times since 1987 (Lain). With appeals and being low on drug supplies, even if a felon is killed, he or she can buy themselves years of time before their time has

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