Should the U.S. Use Capital Punishment?

The topic of capital punishment has been debated over the years in the U.S. by many people on both sides of the issue. I have often heard it said that the majority of Americans citizens support the death penalty. While statistics may prove this to be true, I feel if people really knew the truth behind the death penalty, those statistics would change. Capital punishment needs to be abolished in this country.

As an inmate advocate, I often hear the following from those that support the death penalty
* the death penalty is a deterrent to crime
*the death penalty is the only justice for victims families
*it's the law, so it must be right
*a murderer cannot be rehabilitated
*the cost of housing an inmate for the rest of their lives is more expensive for tax payers that execution

All of the above statements are untrue. If the death penalty was a deterrent to crime, why do we have so many men and women in prisons all across the country and on death row? Those that support this reason for the death penalty do not account for those inmates that might have been high, drunk, have mental disorders, or went into "survival mode," during their crimes.

The death penalty does not bring justice to the victims families. The death of the inmate does not bring their loved one back from the dead nor does it take away the memories of the lost. Sure to some, "an eye for an eye," still applies. That might be a believable and acceptable idea in regards to capital punishment, except that history has proven that there have been many innocent people sitting on the row for crimes they did not commit. There have also been men executed, only to have DNA or other evidence years later prove their innocence. One innocent person executed is one too many.

The law is not always right. The law is suppose to protect us and also citizens the freedom to live peacefully. Again, I say that the idea of an innocent man or woman being state santioned murdered is enough for me to say that this law is not right. The fact that inmates have to endure pain during an execution is another reason I say this law is not right. Who are we to say how a person dies?

Any person can be rehabilitated if that person wants it. Rehabilitation is possible until we take our last breath. In the few that cannot be rehabilitated, they should remain locked behind bars. It really upsets me that people in this country give up on each other because of a mistake that has been made. What if one of this inmates was your brother, sister, mother, wife? Would the pro's feel the same about the death penalty then?

The cost of an execution far outweighs the cost of life in prison. Execution costs include the doctors, attendants, the wonderful three drug cocktail that is shoot into the arm of the condemned, and many other things. The cost also includes the inmates life. Who can put a price on a life? Ask that inmates family and loved ones who much the inmates life is worth. I bet there is not enough state money anywhere to cover that cost.

I also have a problem with Capital Punishment being used in cases of people that are not actually the killer. Texas has a nice little law known as the Law of Parties, where a person can be found guilty of capital murder without intend being proven. A person can not even be present at the crime scene and still be sentenced to die!! Kenneth Foster and Rudy Medrano are just a few men sitting on the row in Texas because of the Law of Parties. With laws like this hanging in the balance of capital punishment, it only makes sense that the death penalty be scrapped at all levels.

I don't see a complete abolishment of the death penalty any time soon. While I do support the current Supreme Courts attempt to look into the constitutionality of the lethal injection, I really don't think much will change. Those that have a desire to see things change about the death penalty need to get out and vote, write their state politicians, and find their voice to fight the fight. Together, all things are possible.