Capital Punishment

. When speaking about capital punishment, I have mixed feelings. I have done research papers on it in the past and have read numerous texts on the act itself. However, I have never looked at the issue from the view that we have in this class.

I tend to lean more towards the arguments against capital punishment in my own opinions. I agree with the statements that the state has no right to kill and I feel that the death penalty does not rehabilitate which therefore goes against the constitution. I feel that it would be more of a punishment to give a life sentence than death. If a prisoner is forced to spend the rest of his life in a cell, not getting to see his children grow, I see that as a true punishment. I think that if a death sentence is given, it is more of a punishment to his family than to the prisoner. Also, after reading statistics on capital punishment, I found that it truly does not act as a deterrent. In fact, states that use capital punishment have more murders than states that do not use it.

I just feel that capital punishment is an unnecessary form of vengeance. I don't think that it's fair to kill someone just to get back at them for their wrongdoing. I feel that the government should help them get counseling for their mental state. This would most likely be more effective. Any person that inflicts pain upon another person should be punished, but I don't think death is the way to go.

The death penalty seems to veer so far away from the morals and ethics of our country. I feel that it is really important for the government to take a step back and look at what they're doing and the example that they are setting for their people.