The Controversial Death Penalty

There are few topics as controversial among thehappens to only those people deserving its
American government and general population as thepunishment and they say that because there is no
death penalty. Few topics spark such heated debatesreal way to make the punishement infallible, the
and few issues have people so clearly on one side ofpunishment should not exist.
the argument or the other. The death penalty isBecause of the injustices of our nation's justice
definitely famous for having thinkers on both sides ofsystem, many Americans believe that the death
the fence with few people riding the gray area in thepenalty should cease to exist. They raise questions
middle.such as where should the line be drawn for what
Many Americans are for the death penalty. Incrimes deserve the death penalty and what crimes
essence they believe that there are certain crimes sodo not? Who is to say what crimes should be
heinous that the criminals deserve nothing but death.punishable onto death and what crimes should allow
People who choose to take the life of anotherthe criminal to keep their life? Since there are no
through murder, for example, are criminals for whomclear answers to these questions, many say that the
the death penalty should be in effect. A drug dealerdeath penalty cannot rightfully exist. Or, for example,
whose dealing leads to the death of people could alsowhat if the justice system is wrong in their judgment
be considered a prime criminal to undergo the deathof a suspected criminal and condemns an innocent
penalty. Americans that are pro-death penalty believeperson to suffer the death penalty while the real
that those who take the life of another should notcriminal goes free? We can never be fully sure of the
be able to keep their own lives. There are, of course,justice of our justice system, they say.
exceptions for deaths that occur because of war,Another injustice of the death penalty system that
self-defense, or the killing of say a person whomany Americans note is that often criminals without
abuses children. These are justifiable deaths that dosufficient means to defend themselves are left to die
not require the death penalty.while other criminals with money and power are able
On the other side of the death penalty debate areto flee the punishment of the death penalty simply
Americans who do not believe that the death penaltybecause they have the means to beat the system.
should exist for many reasons. In general, theseHow just is the punishment if not all criminals are
Americans believe that it is inhumane to kill even agiven equal opportunity to present their case?
killer. They believe that even a killer has rights thatThere are endless questions that plague people on
need to be protected by the law. A huge cautionboth sides of the death penalty debate. The only for
that many people site about the death penalty issure thing about the issue is that it is highly debatable
surrounding our justice system. Many Americansand complicated for our nation to agree upon.
wonder how to ensure that the death penalty