Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty

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The Pro’s and the Cons of the Death Penalty. Capital punishment has been the center of much controversy dating all the way back to its origins. Though the root of capital punishment has its dates all the way back to 1696 BC, arguments over its effectiveness and morality, continue in the midst of its existence today. 1608 the earliest death penalty in the British American Colonies handed was handed out for treason. There are many people who have come up with arguments for both sides. Most people who believe that the death penalty is a fair punishment. While most people who are in opposition, they use the argument that capital punishment is cruel and unusual punishment which violates the eighth amendment to the United States Constitution. Today, in the United States of America there are approximately 3,624 people on death row. Throughout history there has been many different execution styles. Some of these methods are crucifixion, stoning, drowning, burning at the stake, impaling and beheading. But more modern methods of capital punishment are typically accomplished by lethal gas or injection, electrocution, hanging or shooting. The argument over the brutality of capital punishment is at the head of topics concerning it as a whole. The average cost of a death penalty case is around 2.4 million dollars. There has been a total of 1,348 executions in the United States since 1976. Texas and Virginia have had the most executions out of the 35 states that have the death penalty. They have a combined 570 executions. In 1999 we executed 98 people in the United States. Theory of Deterrence Pro/Con There are two common arguments in support of the death penalty, or capital punishment. Deterrence and retribution. Now most American’s believe the death penalty is a deterrent for murder. That seems to be how they
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