Capital Punishment

I believe that capital punishment is a justifiable means of punishment for the most heinous crimes. In addition, the means of execution should not matter if the basic principle behind this form of justice can be justified by the specific crime. This is why my opinion is that any form of capital punishment in effect in the United States today is warranted and fair. Executions have drawn a great deal of publicity to the subject of whether death by electrocution is "cruel and unusual". Cases such as that of Pedro Medina, whose mask caught on fire during the procedure, provides an example of punishments gone wrong, and therefore punishments possibly being cruel and unusual. Other evidence provided by those opposing the use of electrocution as a form of the death penalty is the fact that the 2,000 volts of electricity cause every muscle in the body to contract, something that should be very painful.

"In One assessment of 16 well-publicized executions, Steven Stack found that they may have saved 480 lives by immediately deterring potential murderers. In more recent survey, he concluded that well-publicized executions of criminals in California reduced the homicide rate 12 percent during the month of the execution." (Siegel L & Senna J, 2005 pg.415) I believe that if every person is given one life, another person does not have the right to take an extra one. A murderer has forfeited the quota and his life is not