Capital Punishment is the ultimate penalty for a crime, and Texas recognizes that. The death penalty can only apply to these crimes:
- murder of a public safety officer or firefighter;
- murder during the commission of kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, or obstruction or retaliation;
- murder for remuneration;
- murder during prison escape;
- murder of a correctional employee;
- murder by a state prison inmate who is serving a life sentence for any of five offenses (murder, capital murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, or aggravated robbery);
- multiple murders;
- murder of an individual under six years of age.
Many debate whether capital punishment deters future murders or not, but John McAdams clearly states my opinion on the matter when he said,
"If we execute murderers and there is in fact no deterrent effect, we have killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to execute murderers, and doing so would in fact have deterred other murders, we have allowed the killing of a bunch of innocent victims. I would much rather risk the former. This, to me, is not a tough call."
The most important reason to keep the death penalty is to prevent those that commit the crimes from repeating them. If an inmate is sentenced to life in prison without parole in a state without the death penalty, then that inmate has nothing to lose. The felon would have the rest of his life to attempt an escape, and it would be impossible to have a substantial penalty for his actions.
For these reasons Texas should keep the death penalty. It is something that all people who want peace in our society wish did not have to exist, but it is absolutely necessary.
6 comments:
This blog caught my attention. Could I have the link to this article?
Thanks
hk
I agree 100%...well done!
I agree that Texas should never get rid of the death penalty. To be sentence the death penalty, the murderer have had committed dreadful murder or murders. It is good to know that Texas does not overuse this punishment. It has been use 405 times for the last 32 years, and “there is no conclusive evidence that any of these people were innocent.”
The death penalty is to prevent more murders from happening. It is an act to make our society safer. For the family that lost their love one, when a murderer is sentence to be executed, is a sense of relief but the pain of losing their love one still continues. I think that the death penalty is one way to show that our justice system is working us citizens. Why should a murderer deserve to live if they have killed an innocent person? It cost a lot of money to provide a prison, security, guards, food and clothing for these murderers. Who is paying for these murderers’ food and shelter? Tax payers?
I really agree that we should keep the death penalty in Texas. You pointed out that we have only used the death penalty around 400 times since 1976, which I also agree that we have not overused it. Most inmates spend several years on death row before they are ever excuted. They are given several chances for appeals and even have the chance to have new DNA technology introduced when thier cases are reopened after several decades. Great job on your blog.
I agree with your and John McAdams opinions on Capital Punishment. Great job on your blog.
This blog also caught my attention - and I agree. I am an advocate in the death penalty and also do not feel that Texas doesn't not abuse the punishment. And although I believe in a fair trial and the appeal process, there are too many inmates on deathrow...many for 10-15 years. I agree with Helena K's last statement with regards to the taxpayer dollar.
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