Is the death penalty "Cruel and Unusual Punishment?" Why or why not?

Question

Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, refers to the custom of executing prisoners who are convicted of certain crimes. Such crimes are known as capital crimes, and tend to be grave crimes against persons or governments (such as premeditated murder, rape, or treason). The United States remains in the minority of nations in the world that still uses death as penalty for certain crimes. Many see the penalty as barbaric and against American values. Others see it as a very important tool in fighting violent pre-meditated murder. Two things have once again brought this issue to national debate. One issue is the release of some highly publicized studies that show a number of innocents had been put to death. The second issue is terrorism and the need to punish its perpetrators.

The Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits Cruel and Unusual Punishment:

"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted."

This language was based on the 1689 English Bill of Rights, which was redacted in the Virginia Declaration of Rights and proposed by the Virginia ratifying convention. Recently, liberals have created controversies concerning whether this clause in the Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive fines and the death penalty. The Bible is very clear and Exodus 21:23-25 states "But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth...." Thus, the death penalty is compatible with the Bible.

Again, is the death penalty "Cruel and Unusual Punishment?" Explain why or why not?

Answer 1

Not really. The reason my country doesn't have it is because the politicians blew up buildings during the freedom struggle. Thus they have sympathy for criminals. Although prisons are very overcrowded in my country...it is basically like hell in there. Often there are up to 20 people in a cell. There is a lot of rape and murder in there as well. I would actually prefer to be executed rather than to go to one of those prisons for the rest of my life! Some people thrive in there, of course, but they are the hardcore ones who the others are scared of.

Answer 2

how are you able to take a glance on the penalty and not the crime different treason it fairly is the only different one that shares the penalty. this could be a actual warm button situation which you're inquiring for black and white solutions in basic terms that gets you nowhere. that's a in basic terms penalty, what's unjust that they're going to sit down on loss of existence row for 10 years in a dice costing into the 1000's of thousand funds. ( on the tax payers cost). Why could the electorate foot the living cost of an inmate that are frequently numerous circumstances greater then their own average income. All that using fact we can't have faith this individual to stroll our streets, using fact they desire to kill people. Granted it fairly is going to be judged on a case by case situation. needed existence sentences are the main cruel punishment we've in this united states of america.

Answer 3

The issue of cruel and unusual is often raised in reference to the period between sentencing and execution.



Soviets had a nice way of doing the job, you were found guilty, possibly without even being informed. They then walked you done a corridor and while you were happily strolling they shot you in the back of head. Quite civilised really.



That being said, death penalty simply doesnt work in achieving safer societies.



Start thinking harder guys.

Answer 4

As long as the State is 100%, absolutely sure of the guilt of the person, then I say cook them. The murdered didn't care how cruel and unusual their murder of a person was.

Answer 5

The only ting "cruel and unusual" about it is that of al, the premeditated murders, the majority of blacks get it and the majority of whites do not.