Essay Examples on Death Penalty Essay Example

Essay Examples on Death Penalty Paper 1st Essay Sample on Death Penalty â€Å"Dead man walking!† This sound rings through each and every death row inmate a thousand times a day; but should it? Capital punishment is one of the most controversial topics among Americans today. The most severe of all sentences: that of death. Also known as the death penalty, capital punishment this is the most severe form of corporal punishment as it is requires law enforcement officers to kill the offender. It has been banned in many countries, in the United States, an earlier move to eliminate capital punishment has now been reversed and more and more states are resorting to capital punishment for serious offenses such as murder. An eye for and eye, a life for a life, who has never heard of the famous lex talionis? The Bible mentions it, and people have been using it regularly for centuries. We use it in reference to burglary, adultery, love and many other situations. However, some people use it on a different level, some people use it in reference to death. One st eals from those who have stolen from him, one wrongs those who have wronged him, but do we really have the right to kill those who have killed? Today, there is a big controversy over capital punishment whether or not it works, or if it is morally right. We have a certain privilege on our own lives, but do the lives of others belong to us as well? Do we have the right to decide the kind of lives others can or cannot live? We find someone guilty of murder and sentence him to death, does that not make murderers out of ourselves? Those who assist in the death penalty are they not partners in crime? Society should not allow the death penalty in order to set up a more efficient justice system to prevent the execution of innocent people, to eliminate the unethical deterrent, and to abolish the society taking a life. First, the society should not allow the death penalty in order to set up a more efficient justice system to prevent the execution of innocent people. 2nd Essay Sample on Death Penalty Oklahoma executed Sean Sellers, who was sixteen when he murdered his parents, February 1999.This marked thefirst time in forty years that such a young offender was executed in the United States.Criticism and calls for clemency came from around the world, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the American Bar Association, and Amnesty International.These events that have occurred in our country are tearing it apart at its seams: the death penalty and the divided America it has created. Long before thefirst prisons were built there was the penalty of death.The Greeks and Hebrews developed a specific ritual for execution by stoning.Death by a thousand cuts was popular in China where small bits of flesh were carved away over a period of days or weeks.In the 19th century India elephants were sometimes used to make executions especially excruciating.While in England people convicted of capital crimes were hung, disemboweled, and quartered.For a century, animals also found their way into the g allows; in 1396 a pig accused of fatally injuring a child was dressed in the suit of a man and publicly hanged. Nearly four centuries have passed since thefirst documented lawful execution on American soil in 1608.The early ways of execution were adapted from the British, even though the colonies were thought to be more humane.In England burning at the stake, quartering, and disemboweling were still common place, hanging was the choice method of killing convicts in the colonies.However, the public hangings still had the festive carnival atmosphere as they did in Europe.Lynching was an unofficial form of execution and was widespread in early America.1,540 documented lynchings were performed at its peak in the 1890s, during that time 1,098 authorized government executions were performed. 3rdEssay Sample on Death Penalty We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on Death Penalty specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on Death Penalty specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on Death Penalty specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Capitol Punishment is a subject of much controversy for many years.Some United States citizens doubt the Death Penalties worth, but it is a proven deterrent to crime.Other people fear the murders of innocent people by the United States government, but now with aid of DNA testing, there is no escaping science.Even though most people believe in the Death Penalty, due to the fact that the Death Penalty leaves no way for them to get out and harm another innocent victim.Capitol Punishment should be pursed in the United States as a whole, not just in a select number of states. The Death Penalty is a deterrent to crime.As the rate of executions raise, the murder rate drops (Johansen, Jay, Page 135).In Texas in 1982 there were 701 murders, then dropped down to 261 in 1996.This dropped by 63% in 1982, which was the year the Death Penalty was reinstated (Lowe, Wesley).Some times major cases involving the Death Penalty, for example in 1988 there were 47 murders.26 were in January to June; June 10th Arthur Gary Bishop was executed.This dropped the Murder Rate by 19%(Lowe, Wesley).In 1976 to 1977 Gary Gilmore was executed via firing squad, this dropped the murder rate by 20%.In Utah in 1987 there was an average of 4.75 murders a month.In the Wake of the Pierre Dale Shelby execution, it dropped to 4.0 murders a month (Lowe, Wesley).These facts do not lie; they show that with the Death penalty in place, murderers are afraid to kill.In some states that lack the death penalty, some cold-hearted killers will kill because they know they are not going to be executed.Luis Vere said Yeah, I shot her and knew I wouldnt go to the chair (Lowe, Wesley).This shows that if he thought that he would have been executed for committing such a horrific crime we would still have poor Rosa Velez alive with us today. 2nd Essay Sample on Declaration of Independence A Latin statement commonly used in the Middle Ages to define the purpose of government reads: servitium propter jura, non potestas praeter jura. This succinct statement translates to mean, service to and for the sake of rights, not a power exercised beyond or outside of rights. This age-old definition of what gains a government should work toward, coupled with a belief in the importance of universal rights, provided in essence the backbone of the American Declaration of Independence. However, Thomas Jefferson and the Continental Congress chose a more contemporary elaboration of what was meant by those succinct Latin words when they endeavored to break the union with England. Yet few Americans choose to take the opportunity to learn and understand those defining principles that the Founding Fathers laid forth in thatfirst and all-important document. If contemporary Americans were to simply read the words and follow the principles that reside within Declaration of Independence, the na tion as a whole might be philosophically aimed in an entirely different direction†¦the one for which it wasfirst intended. The Declaration of Independence was written as a means of accusing the English King of wrongs before the world as a jury. Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying it was an appeal to the tribunal of the world. (Adler 23) But under which law was the King to be accused? Obviously not English law, the very law they were putting down. The laws of an independent and sovereign nation would likewise have ill effect. Jefferson instead chose to use a law John Locke hadfirst proposed called natural law, which had become the very fuel enflaming the colonies. (Munves 13) These are rights believed to be the common property of all individuals, regardless of nationality, and are older indeed than any government.

Free Essays on Media & Alcohol

THE MEDIA’S DOUBLE STANDARD DONALD SCHOFIELD There are millions of people in our society, especially teenagers, that are exposed to large billboards, humorous television commercials, magazines, and movies all containing some type of alcohol use or advertisement. Yet, there are anti-alcohol and drug programs, such as D.A.R.E. that degrade usage. There is a double standard in American advertising to the point that adolescents are left to decide for themselves if they should consume alcohol, smoke, or use drugs. Suppose you are driving down the expressway. Somewhere along your journey you are bound to see a large billboard advertising some sort of alcoholic beverage. This sort of advertisement will most likely contain some young happy people skiing in the mountains combined with a catchy quote, such as, â€Å"Tap the Rockies†. Another place you will notice the use of alcohol is in many movies, nowadays, such as, ‘American Pie 2‘. Movies such as these display teenagers drinking alcohol and enjoying themselves. It is advertisements and movies such as these that are causing controversy between anti-alcohol campaigners and beer and wine makers. Are these portrayals of alcohol influencing teenagers to drink more? This is a very debatable issue that offers good points on both sides. Ultimately, the question arises: Is the media/advertising portrayal of alcohol a sufficient threat to teen use of alcohol that it should be banned or regulated? â€Å"Undoubtedly, alcohol is the principle drug abuse problem in America today† (National Journal, 1998). According to General Barry McCaffery, former President Clinton’s drug czar, the most dominant drug causing violence among American people starts with the abuse of beer and wine coolers by adolescent Americans. It is clear that alcohol is a major problem in America, even more so than drugs. A number of studies have taken place to understand the seriousness of underage drinking. A recent s... Free Essays on Media & Alcohol Free Essays on Media & Alcohol THE MEDIA’S DOUBLE STANDARD DONALD SCHOFIELD There are millions of people in our society, especially teenagers, that are exposed to large billboards, humorous television commercials, magazines, and movies all containing some type of alcohol use or advertisement. Yet, there are anti-alcohol and drug programs, such as D.A.R.E. that degrade usage. There is a double standard in American advertising to the point that adolescents are left to decide for themselves if they should consume alcohol, smoke, or use drugs. Suppose you are driving down the expressway. Somewhere along your journey you are bound to see a large billboard advertising some sort of alcoholic beverage. This sort of advertisement will most likely contain some young happy people skiing in the mountains combined with a catchy quote, such as, â€Å"Tap the Rockies†. Another place you will notice the use of alcohol is in many movies, nowadays, such as, ‘American Pie 2‘. Movies such as these display teenagers drinking alcohol and enjoying themselves. It is advertisements and movies such as these that are causing controversy between anti-alcohol campaigners and beer and wine makers. Are these portrayals of alcohol influencing teenagers to drink more? This is a very debatable issue that offers good points on both sides. Ultimately, the question arises: Is the media/advertising portrayal of alcohol a sufficient threat to teen use of alcohol that it should be banned or regulated? â€Å"Undoubtedly, alcohol is the principle drug abuse problem in America today† (National Journal, 1998). According to General Barry McCaffery, former President Clinton’s drug czar, the most dominant drug causing violence among American people starts with the abuse of beer and wine coolers by adolescent Americans. It is clear that alcohol is a major problem in America, even more so than drugs. A number of studies have taken place to understand the seriousness of underage drinking. A recent s...