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Death Penalty In America Essay

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Recommended: Brief history of capital punishment

Introduction:
Capital punishment has been a criminal sentence imposed in America since colonial times. During this particular time period, the penalty was used for different crimes that went against the social norms, such as horse stealing, rape, burglary, and slave rebellion. Today the death sentence is strictly used in murder cases and in thirty-two out of the fifty states and by the federal system in the United States. In these states, it is completely legal to use the ultimate punishment of death to incapacitate a criminal from committing any further harm to society (Marcus, 2007). Throughout American history, many individuals have supported the death penalty because they believe it is an effective way to deter crime. Others have strongly …show more content…

The purpose of my research is to examine which demographic and social factors influence a person’s position on the issue of capital punishment. Researchers have discovered that there is some type of relationship between an individual’s beliefs about capital punishment and their gender, race, political views, and religion (Unnever and Cullen, 2007). Education level and socio-economic status have also been noted to be leading variables that affect an individual’s position on the issue of the death penalty (Baik, 2012). In addition, the mass media has become an important aspect of many people’s lives and influences the public’s opinion. Research indicates that television, radio, newspapers, and the internet may affect a person’s ideology on the death penalty (Britto and Noga-Styron, 2014). I selected this topic to discover what factor influences an individual’s position on capital punishment the most. This issue is extremely important because as America’s population becomes more diverse, it is essential to understand what groups oppose or support the death penalty and what factors influence their position. Individual’s position on capital punishment can also impact future legislations about this particular

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Edward Koch make it clear that he believes that capital punishment can prevent homicides: “Had the death penalty been a real possibility in the minds of these murderers, they might well have stayed their hands” (484). Koch tries to convince his reader that a strict punishment like the death penalty will definitely force people to think twice before they murder another human being. Koch uses evidence like the murder rate and cases where criminals committed multiple murders to support his defense for capital punishment, and uses the statistics to show how necessary capital punishment is necessary in the United States (485-86). This essay is directed at U.S. citizens how can be persuaded to support or have not yet formed an opinion on capital punishment, so the death penalty can gain supporters and be fully incorporated into the law. He also states that by making murderers pay with their lives, capital punishment makes the value of human life at a higher level (487).

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Have you ever wonder a few decades ago how people lives were punished for being a part of a crime? Many of these individuals are rather influenced by the crimes or were affected by their devastated childhood. As you can see a writer name Truman Capote have demonstrated us how an investigation has reflected us on law, discipline, and the important factors of using capital punishment. Capital punishment is defined as the death penalty, in which you penalized people who has done wrong in the world or violated an act/law. If has been used today and in ancient times for various accusation or offenses.

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I will now introduce the fading of humanity. People suggest and would like that death penalty should still exist. They think about safety. They think about how they will feel safe if a murder is executed. They do not think that they vote for violation of the human rights.

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