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Do you agree with the death penalty? The death penalty is an issue that raises much conflict in our society. There are two main views regarding the death penalty. ... Within the differing views of supporting or against the death penalty comes controversies of discrimination, economic status and gender roles. ...
Throughout history, the death penalty has been a form of punishment used and accepted by many societies. ... As noted by the author of The Death Penalty Opposing Viewpoints, both the Ancient Roman and Mosaic Law believed in retaliation and the notion of “an eye for an eye”. ... The death penalty was brought to the American colonies as early as 1636 by the European settlers who felt that some offenses deserved capital punishment. ... However, views opposing the death penalty began to form in the eighteenth century, and a movement to try and restrict or possibly abolish the death penalty came into motion. The death penalty is still used as a form of capital punishment here in the U. ... and there are over three thousand inmates on death row throughout the country. (Paul Winters, The Death Penalty Opposing Viewpoints, page 102, 1997.)
Is it race that plays a key role in the consideration of sentencing a criminal to the death penalty? ... According to Elaine Landau, the author of Teens and the Death Penalty, studies have shown that “an individual convicted of killing a white person is significantly more likely to receive the death penalty than those who kill African Americans” (1992, page 73). Blacks make up about 12% of the national population, but make up 40% of inmates on death row. (Paul Winters, The Death Penalty Opposing Viewpoints, page 149, 1997). ... “In Florida and Texas, blacks who killed whites were five to six times, respectively, more likely to be sentenced to death than whites who killed whites. And among black offenders in Florida, those who killed whites were forty times more likely to get the death penalty than those who killed blacks. (Paul Winters, The Death Penalty Opposing Viewpoints, page 151,1997). ... (Elaine Landau, Teens and the Death Penalty, pages 75-76, 1992). ... “In researching a book-in-progress about the 300-year history of the death penalty in the United States I have discovered only six cases in which those executed were individuals of influence of affluence. ... ” (Paul Winters, The Death Penalty Opposing Viewpoints, page 164, 1997). ... Statistically, people from a wealthy background don’t commit crimes where the death penalty would be an option; they commit more of the “white collar” crimes. (Paul Winters, The Death Penalty Opposing Viewpoints, page 165, 1997).
Approximate Word count = 2135
Approximate Pages = 8.5
(250 words per page double spaced)
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