Capital punishment2 essays

Capital punishment2 essays Capital Punishment is a term used for criminals who are punished by being put to death. Ever since the early 1800's, most executions have been a result of murder convictions. Some other crimes that have invoked the use of the death penalty are; robbery, kidnapping, rape, and treason. When it comes down to it this is a controversial issue that questions morality. In England during the 18th century, death was decreed for several hundred specific offenses, particularly for those against property. During that time, however, limitations began to be placed on the number and types of offenses for which criminals were put to death. The 1970's had eliminated death as a statutory punishment in many countries such as; Portugal, Denmark, Venezuela, Austria, Brazil, Switzerland, and Great Britain. In other countries if it still occurred it was a rare thing. Within the US there are death penalty statutes in some states but not all. In 1972 the Supreme Court made a ruling stating, that capital punishment laws as they stood were unconstitutional . However later on an other supreme court ruling upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty per se, and since then many states have passed death penalty laws with in the regulations of the court's ruling. Many people oppose the death penalty because they think it is morally wrong and cruel. Some even warn against the risk of executing people who are wrongly accused and convicted. Other people believe that if someone takes a human life then they deserve theirs. The early 1990's have executed about 150 people executed in the United States since 1976 and 2,000 people are on death row. The United Nations has to take a good look at this situation and put their own morality behind them when they decide what they want to do. Thousands of humans are in the hands of the UN. This topic needs serious consideration and a well thought out solution. ...