Different Perspectives

The death penalty has many different views and issues. Some indications that I have that people are righting about this issue is because the elections are coming up. During election times the people running talk about all the issues that are going on in the United States of America. Capital punishment being one of the issues that is brought up during debates and speeches. Reporters and bloggers make articles and stories on what the candidates say about this issue and that gets people to talk about this topic. Some sources that I will find is debate videos that go on in the elections between the democrats and the republicans. An example where capital punishment was brought up in the debate in 2008 between Barack Obama and Alan Keyes. Other different sources that I will find is an organization where people can put their opinion in this topic. For example, a question that was asked was, if capital punishment is morally acceptable. Many different individuals wrote their personal opinion and gave explanations on why or why not the death penalty is morally acceptable. These sources are credible because they are well known. Especially the YouTube videos of candidates debating on the topic because these candidates are usually graduates from a top university in the world.

Some specific issues that involves this topic is that people argue that having the death penalty is just a way for revenge. Killing someone for vengeance is immoral and should not be done. People say that vengeance does not play a role or have anything to do with the death penalty. But having people outside the prison chanting aggressively and having mob attacks proves that vengeance does play a big part. Some aspects that people might hold different opinions on in this topic is that some people prefer life in prison instead. People who hold this opinion believe it is more beneficial because to be stuck in a prison for the rest of your life is worse than killing them. In addition, having the prisoner be in prison for the rest of their life saves way more money than having them be on death row. The cost of having someone life in prison without the penalty cost around $740,000 dollars. On the other hand, to have a prisoner be on death row to be executed cost about $1.26 million (DPIC). There is a huge jump to that and the jump can be money spent to some other program to help these prisoners instead of killing them, like the alternatives I listed in my previous blog. Keep in mind this is per prisoner. Depending on which state you live in it could be more or could be less. Having the death penalty cost tax payer a whole bunch of money, approximately $90,000 a year more. This opinion takes a toll in many peoples’ perspective. People do not like to be taxed more so they are trying to get rid of the death penalty. Many facts and opinions make this controversial topic hard to choose a side.