Putting criminals to death is a practice traced back to ancient
times, yet in the United States, towards the latter half of the 20th
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.