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The Paradox Of Capital Punishment In The United States

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The Constitution gives us all the same rights, as to be equal. The court judges and juries are abusing their power and rights by administering capital punishment. Capital punishment is unlawful and unethical. Capital punishment is the use of execution as punishment for a crime. This punishment is also known as the death penalty, which is typically used for capital crimes such as murder. There is much controversy over the topic and this led to many states in America abolishing the death penalty. However, other countries such as China still use this type of execution practice (“Ethics - Capital Punishment: Introduction.”). “The object of punishments being not only to satisfy justice, but also to reform the offender and thus prevent crime, murder, …show more content…

It should not have to be said that there should be more at stake here than just handing out executions. Ethics, empathy, alternatives, and innocence should all be examined before a judge brings down the gavel with the full force of the law. Capital punishment is a problem because it creates a paradox of someone being executed for being a murderer, not unlike “eye for an eye” (“Humane Executions: The Paradox of American Capital Punishment.”). The Eighth Amendment states: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Since a death penalty sentencing lead to years spent on death row, it violates the Eighth Amendment (“The 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”). There are restrictions that say that the punishment cannot be cruel and unusual or done in public. The desired effect is that people will be deterred from crime if they know the impact it has on the criminal, as in being executed in public. Although, since the “lopping off of heads” is done privately, it can not have the same desired effect. As Bailey Palmer says, “But we don’t do it publically for a reason: it seems wrong. We should recognize this gut reaction– the deep-seated, instinctual horror– and try to weigh our beliefs against it.”(“Humane Executions: The Paradox of American Capital Punishment.”). This action is against the grain and an alternative to this practice …show more content…

In 2000, a Oregon Department of Administrative Services survey showed that the Oregon Judicial Department could have been saving $2.3 million annually if the death penalty was abolished. Studies have shown that race, status, and location can play a role in whether or not a criminal will receive the death punishment. The focus of objection to the use of capital punishment is that innocent people are at risk for being sentenced to death. In relation, mentally ill people can not show their emotions as well as others and appear to be cold, which puts them at risk for being unlawfully executed (“The Facts: 13 Reasons to Oppose the Death

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