Pull up an Electric Chair, America

Putting criminals to death is a practice traced back to ancient times, yet in the United States, towards the latter half of the 20^th century, this has become a very controversial issue.

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As of 2013, 32 US states uphold the death penalty, eleven of which authorize the death penalty for crimes other than murder. As an unwavering supporter of the death penalty, I consider the cessation of the death penalty to be a crime in itself, the victims of which being all American citizens alike. I believe Michigan, and the rest of our American states, should join the 32 and pull up an electric chair and a nice potassium chloride cocktail for our sadistic criminal friends.

            Understandably, the death penalty has a negative effect on liberals and those who worry about false convictions. Abolitionists instead claim there are alternatives to this punishment; they say life without parole serves the same purpose. Certainly, if you ignore all the murders taking place within prison walls they may have a point, but this is a detail I cannot disregard nor defend.

            When it comes to prison murders, events vary from inmates killing inmates to inmates killing guards. If you’ve ever seen Law Abiding Citizen, you’ll understand when I say that just because a convict is behind bars does not mean he doesn’t have the means to continue a kill-streak. In fact, Texas has reached an all-time high for prison murders, peaking at 13 dead guards and inmates in 2012.

            Another factor at hand is the money Americans lose to inmates in taxes every year--inmates who should have been done stealing from the citizens when they got arrested years ago. In 2005, the average annual cost for one prison inmate was $45K, one hospitalized inmate was $850K, one guard’s salary was $60K, and one warden’s salary was $220K. Additionally, prison health care has skyrocketed over the decade from $153 million in 2001 to $1.8 billion in 2012. Because of the possible danger, some doctors are charging prisons over $2K per hour to treat inmates; considering treating one injured person can take three hours, this hourly rate pulls a lot of money from hardworking Americans.

            Beside health care, Americans also pay inmates salaries for the minimal work they do while in prison, according to NBC News. Mopping floors, vacuuming, and cleaning microwaves, these convicts pull together $11 million a year in Michigan alone.

            Another reason prison inmates such as murderers should be capitally punished with the death penalty is marginal deterrence--the criminal mindset to go forth in as much crime as the punishment limits. The way the courts work now, killing one versus killing 18 has no difference in punishment. 103 life sentences? Well, Judge, these convicts aren’t reborn in prison. You only die once. If a man has already killed one person, it serves no difference if he goes ahead and kills a few more. After all, if he gets caught, he’ll just get the same punishment.

            In my opinion, and the opinion of 32 state governments in America, the death penalty is the only way to save the lives of thousands of innocent guards, save America billions of dollars, and prevent marginal deterrence. Creating a punishment more severe than life without parole is the key to strike fear into wrongdoers. Cesare Beccaria, an Italian philosopher, theorized that the fear of a swift, certain, and severe punishment is enough to control criminal behavior. If someone knows they have absolutely no chance of getting away with their crime, they’re likely to think twice before doing it.

            This theory is especially true when it comes to the death penalty. Humans are instinctually prone to fear death and do anything in their power to prevent self-death, according to Psycheducation, meaning if death is a sure-punishment of murder, people are less likely to commit the crime. This proves true in states that have maintained the death penalty over the years. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, the number of death sentences per year has dropped dramatically since 1999, proving the fear brought about by the death penalty has, in fact, deterred crime.

Here’s what I propose to America: could it be possible that we make the punishment for one murder is death by firing squad, two murders is lethal injection, and three murders is the electric chair? That way there are far fewer in-prison deaths, taxpayers save a fortune on over 70% of the prison health care costs, and the fear of death deters initial murders, which makes for a safer America and a better tomorrow.