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Capital Punishment: Cruel and Unusual?

lic church is outspoken in its opposition to the death penalty. Yet Catholics do not differ from non-Catholics in their view of the morality of the death penalty (Drinan 13). Furthermore, those favoring the death penalty cannot be divided into liberal versus conservative camps so easily. For example, George Pataki, when he ran for governor of New York, favored restoring the death penalty but was pro-choice on abortion rights ("Up Again: Capital Punishment" 71). While many New Yorkers do not believe that restoring the death penalty will end crime, they also believe that the continuing ban on the death penalty is too much like the government is showing permissiveness on the subject of crime.

In the 18th century, relatively civilized nations were executing people for such misdemeanors as stealing a bolt of cloth. However, death penalty proponents do not want to go back to these barbaric times. According to a recent poll, there is a high degree of approval for capital punishment for at least certain crimes. At present, there are 36 states where capital punishment is legal for certain crimes ("Crime and Punishment 3). This approach, that of making capital punishment legal for certain crimes, is certainly a more sane and humane approach.

Indeed, there is a very good case for executing those who commit capital crimes irrespectively of the deterrent factor. When Adolf Eichmann was hanged in Israel, this was not really a signal to other anxious genociders to stop dreaming about becoming lord high executioners at a future Auschwitz. Eichmann's execution was carried out because he deserved to be so punished for his crimes ("Crime and Punishment" 3).

Retribution has, in fact, been the main argument in support of the death penalty. When a 1985 Gallup poll asked death penalty supporters to explain their position, 30 percent cited a desire for revenge and justice. Another 18 percent stated that murderers deserved punishment (Rade...

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Capital Punishment: Cruel and Unusual?. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 04:26, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1708487.html