The History of Death Penalty Dates Back to the Days of Hammurabi

Many people support the death penalty, and a lot of them use the defense that comes from the Bible: an eye for eye, and a limb for a limb. I on the other hand believe otherwise. Punishment by death, in my opinion, is 2500 prisoners are executed in at least 37 different countries, on an annual basis. There will be various statistics, opinions, history, and background information discussed throughout the residuum of this thesis. The history of the death penalty, dates back to the days of Hammurabi and his code to the days of the present.

The methods nowadays are certainly different, but the objective and goal has remained the same. The earliest known date of any form of organized capital punishment was in 1750 B.C., with Hammurabi and his code. The Bible prescribed death for more than 30 different crimes, including: murder, treason, theft, arson, and rape, to name a few. In the Medieval Times, treason (grand and petty) murder, larceny, rape, and arson were all crimes recognized as punishable by death.

During the reigns of King Canute and William the Conqueror, it was not used at all.

By 1800, though, more than 200 crimes were construed as punishable by death, but most were commuted by a royal pardon. In the American Colonies, in the years before the Revolution, it was commonly for a wide variety of offenses. Near the end of the 18th century, though, efforts to abolish it arose in Europe. It was led mainly by the Quakers, who believed in non-violence all together.

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Then when influential documents arose, it prompted and inspired the great French philosopher, Voltaire, to oppose it publicly.

At the present there are many fundamental questions raised pertaining to the fact that with the death penalty intact and fully operational, isn’t the government condoning killing. Also, isn’t the government being kind of hypocritical when they say taking a human life is bad, but then they go ahead and do exactly the opposite of what they are saying? One of the axiomatic questions erected is: “Whether the death penalty is more effective than life-time imprisonment?”.

Also, is it an effective deterrent to future violent crimes of a metal nature; i.e. an anvil. The fifth is curtains by hanging. It is the traditional method of execution throughout the English-speaking world. It has to be done with very specific measurements, that is why the prisoner is weighed prior to the execution. The “drop” is based on the prisoner’s weight to deliver 1260-foot pounds of force to the neck. That is done to assure almost instantaneous death. Properly done, death is by dislocation of the third or fourth cervical vertebrae. It is used in Delaware, Montana, and Washington.

The sixth is doom by lethal injection. It was introduced by Oklahoma in 1977. Lethal injection involves the continuous intravenous injection of a fast-acting barbiturate in combination with a chemical paralytic agent. Many doctors have pointed out that the drugs may not work correctly or effectively with former drug users or diabetics. In some cases, minor surgery may have to occur. A total of 27 states use it including: Illinois, North Carolina, among others.

Also, the US Military and the US government utilize this method. The seventh technique is dissolution by electrocution. It produces visibly destructive effects on the body. The prisoner often leaps forward against the restraining straps and harnesses, when the switch is flipped. Also, the body changes color, the flesh swells and may even catch fire, eject feces through the anus, urinate, or vomit blood. Witnesses perpetually report the looming smell of incandescent flesh. States that use it embody Florida, Kentucky, in the midst of eight others.

The eighth methodology is disintegration by way of gas chamber. The prisoner is restrained in a hermetically sealed steel chamber, below which is a pan. Upon a second signal, about 8 oz. of potassium cyanide crystals or tablets are dropped mechanically into the pan, producing hydrocyanic gas which destroys the ability of blood hemoglobin to perform throughout the body. Unconsciousness usually occurs within a few seconds if the prisoner takes a deep breath, and longer if he/she holds their breath.

After pronouncement of death, the chamber is expunged through carbon and neutralizing filters. Gas-masked crews decontaminate the body with a bleach solution and the body is out gassed prior to release. An unwary undertaker may be killed if this is not done. The 9th and last style of execution is demise by firing squad. There is reportedly no specific protocol for this procedure, which according to information from published reports, involves a five-man team. Four out of the five use blank bullets, so that no one will know who the real shooter is. Since its reinstatement in 1976, there have only been 2 executed; Gary Gilmore and John Taylor.

Where there is the death penalty there are moral concerns. Whenever you have a person dying in a situation that is controversial, there will be some serious moral concerns. There have been many moral arguments in favor and many arguments that are against. Many of the moral concerns in favor have been biblical and retributive. Supporters also say: “Let the punishment fit the crime.” Proponents of capital punishment have and will continue to claim that society, as a whole, has the right to kill in defense of its members. There have been numerous moral arguments opposed to the death penalty. Critics have pointed to the risk of executing the innocent.

Also, it has been argued, that one can accept a retributive, without necessarily resorting to death.” Also, some arguments are that women rarely are executed, a disproportionate number of non-whites and the poor and friendless are often executed. The current status of the death penalty is firm, at least in the US. It is firm because 36 out of the 50 states authorize the death penalty as a punishment. The American people back this up by more than a 2 to 1 ratio.

In the 1970’s there were a series of decisions that made capital punishment “unconstitutional if it is mandatorily imposed without sufficient evidence or if it is imposed for a crime which does not threaten a life.” Apart from crimes of treason and espionage, the death penalty has been reserved for crimes of murder. There was a total of 38 states that revised and reenacted after the ruling. Also, it was decided that all emotionally supportive
and unsupportive of capital punishment are barred from jury duty. In the early 1990 s, the trend of favorable rulings for Death Row inmates were cut back.

The death penalty in other countries is not especially similar to the one we have here. It is inflicted for an extremely wide variety of crime, unlike in America. A few African and no Asian or Arab nations have abolished it. Approximately a dozen European countries have had executions fulfilled since the late 1970’s. Around 1/2 the world’s countries have abolished it. 55 nations abolished it for every crime. On average, 2 countries a year abolish the death penalty in one form or another. Some countries are Paraguay, Greece, Italy, and Hungary. Once abolished it is seldom reintroduced. Since 1985, 24 countries have abolished the death penalty in law. During the same period, only 3 have reintroduced it.

During 1994, 2,331 prisoners were known to be executed in 37 different countries. Also, there were 4,032 in 75 countries that were sentenced to die. China led the way, so to speak, with 1,791 killed. International Human Rights prohibit anyone under the age of 18, at the time the crime was committed, to be executed. More than 100 countries have laws specifically denoting this. Five countries since 1990 are known to have executed a human being under the age of 18 years old.

They include Iran, Pakistan, USA, and Yemen. The majority being in the US. As long as the death penalty is maintained, there will always be a minute possibility, that you are executing the innocent. During the years of 1900 to 1975, a total of 350 people were convicted of capital crimes and executed for a crime they did not commit. Some escaped execution by minutes, but others were not so lucky. 48 people were freed from Death Row since 1972. In terms of people on Death Row, California is number 1 with 477, while South Dakota has 2. Illinois has 165, that is an above average amount. The US total is 3,365. Out of 50 states, 14 do not have it. They include Hawaii, North Dakota, and Maine. 28 states authorize 2 methods of execution.

My personal opinion about the death penalty is lukewarm, meaning that I could go fo or against it. I will discuss the pros and cons and my heartfelt opinion. I believe that retribution plays a huge role in the death penalty process. It helps bring closure to a subject that once was unimaginable. Also, it helps the families move on and put behind them what has caused them anguish, for some that has been literally years. Also, forgiveness is a major player in this situation.

It brings the convicted into the hands of God, where he will be forgiven. Hopefully, the convict leaves this world with nothing on his chest because the family has forgiven him. Fear. It plays a major role in this. It shows a future criminal what quite possibly could happen to them. Also, it puts fear into society, as a whole, that committing heinous crimes just isn’t good.

The cons of the death penalty, and there are some, are large in my mind. I will explain how certain states weigh in, killing the innocent, and death, in itself. There are many statistics floating around, but these are the two most accurate. One state shows that incurring it will not all deter crime, while the second shows that the number of murders does stay the same in areas that have it. Killing the innocent is very important because whenever a human life is concerned, you should proceed with caution. In the case that you execute the innocent there should be some serious remorse. Death, in and of itself, is huge here. Think about it, you are taking a fellow human’s life, which is just as bad as what they did.

I believe that capital punishment is a crude and barbaric form of punishment. In some cases, people who are really sorry for what they did, are executed. Sometimes, death is delayed, and they have to start over again, while the “executionee” is half-alive. I further believe that it is unconstitutional for people, to be submitted to so much pain and agony. Life without the possibility of parole would be fine. At one point in time, not too long ago, the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional. Also, statistics show it doesn’t decrease the murder rate, it only decreases the population. It does not deter criminals from future crime.

In closing, I believe that the death penalty is a crude and vulgar source for some sick people to find joy. I believe that capital punishment is in fact unconstitutional. The Bible may prescribe death, but on this one I believe that it is wrong. Statistics show that capital punishment doesn’t decrease murders, but in some places increases them! Someday soon, I believe, the Supreme Court of the United States of America will in fact outlaw all forms of capital punishment, and instead implement more life without parole sentences. It cost the taxpayers millions to execute someone! Why do it? Would you?