The Death Penalty Issue: Abstract, Introduction, History

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The Death Penalty
Abstract
The death penalty issue raises divided opinions across members of the society. Although its proponents and opponents aim for a better society, they are not in agreement when it comes to the death penalty as a way of stopping crimes. This paper examines the issue of the death penalty with a major focus on its use in the US. Its history dates back to 18th century BC. In the US, the death penalty was brought up the British Colonialists. In the 1960s, the efforts of interest groups had a significant impact on the laws relating to the death penalty in the US. As shown in this paper, Amnesty International is one of the organizations that is concerning with bring the death penalty to an end in all countries of the world. The execution methods include electrocution, hanging, beheading, lethal injection, and shooting in the head by firing squad. Racial discrimination is an aspect that characterizes death penalty in the US.
Introduction
The death penalty is an issue that has raised divided opinions, particularly in the contemporary world. The death penalty is the intentional killing of a human being who has been found guilty of committing a particular crime (Herrmann 3). After a trial has been conducted, one may be sentenced to death in the case they are found guilty. The way the person is put to death depends on the country as well as the laws in place. While in the past the death penalty was normal, it is a contested issue in the current world because of the advancement of the justice system and the instruments of administering justice. Both the opponents and proponents of death share the desire of protecting the society and punishing criminal behavior. For the proponents, they consider death penalty a deterrent, something that will put an end to crime. Many of the proponents believe that the victim of the crime attains most justice through death penalty (Walker 11). On the other hand, the opponents consider the death penalty as an ineffective way of stopping crime. For them, there exist better ways of punishing crime and keeping the society safee (Walker 11). As seen, the issue of death penalty raises divided opinions. The death penalty is currently applicable in 31 states in the US and is authorized by the military and the US government (National Council of State Legislatures [NCSL]). Recently, the states of Illinois, New Mexico, Maryland, and Connecticut have abolished the death penalty and have replaced it with life imprisonment without parole. As such, new developments in regards to death penalty continue to emerge.
History
As informed by the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), the first laws to be established regarding death penalty happened as early as 18th century BC in Babylon Hammurabi’s King’s Code. In the laws, twenty-five crimes were codified for the death penalty (DPIC). In the 14th century BC, it was part of the Hittite Code while in the 7th century BC, it was part of Athens’ Draconian Code (DPIC). In the 10th century AD, execution by hanging was commonly practiced in Britain (DPIC). In the year that followed, execution was abolished by William the Conqueror except only during war times. However, u...