Argumentative Essay About Death Penalty

How would you feel if your 20-year-old daughter was tragically murdered and the killer was caught? You would feel safe right? Well, turns out you are far from it. In fact, almost 3,000 people escape prison every year. Would you have wished you fought harder for the death penalty when you had the chance to if it meant keeping your family out of harm's way? Besides, it’s not like the death penalty was just invented. The death penalty was started around the 18th century B.C. by King Hammurabi. Since 1976, 1,491 people have died due to the death penalty otherwise known as capital punishment. There are many ways people complete the death penalty which include an electric chair, lethal injection, firing squad, and more. The death penalty is an extremely controversial topic. However, the death penalty should be legal. Not only is it needed to carry out retribution, but it also prevents killers from escaping and it’s more humane than life in prison.

The death penalty is very important when it comes to retribution. According to Robert Macy, a district attorney of Oklahoma. “A young mother was rendered helpless as she watched her baby be brutally murdered, then she herself was killed.” (1983) Without the death penalty we would not be able to bring justice to this mother and baby. It’s truly unfair that this killer would be able to eat 3 meals a day, watch tv, and see his family members after committing such a ghastly crime. Along the same lines, According to Procon.org. “Retribution is needed to give relatives of the victim's closure and a feeling of safety, clarity, and peace.” (2022) So not only does retribution make the punishment fit the crime but it also helps bring families comfort. Without retribution, families would have to live in constant fear that a criminal may break out. This leads me to the argument that the death penalty prevents criminals from escaping.

The death penalty puts a halt to criminals breaking out and tormenting even more people. According to Wesleylowe.com, there is a list of almost 70 criminals who were released, or escaped from prison, just to commit a more serious crime after. (2017) This clearly demonstrates that without the death penalty criminals will just continue to murder and cause pain to innocent families. Nobody deserves to suffer because we aren’t willing to put someone to death. One example of a murderer escaping is Ted Bundy.  According to history.com. Ted Bundy escaped two times, after the second time he escaped, he murdered 3 young girls as soon as he got out of prison. (2022) This shows that the death penalty can keep people safe. If Ted Bundy had not received the death penalty then he would have just continued to escape and murder more women just like this evidence suggests. Plus, for some people like Ted Bundy, the death penalty can truly be the more humane option.

Capital Punishment is more considerate to the criminal rather instead of life in prison. According to ABC News, “ Some death- Row prisoners suffer from mental illnesses and depression and many admit to things they didn’t do.” (2006)  If death row prisoners truly believe that their quality of life is so bad they don’t even try to fight for it. Shouldn’t we at least allow them to have the option of death over rotting in prison for the rest of their days? I would also like to mention that according to Michael Radelet, a professor of sociology at the university of colorado. “Prison conditions have not given inmates much reason to want to live longer on death row.” (2006) This demonstrates that for some criminals it truly is fairer for them to allow the death penalty. Not only do they not have to deal with horrible prison conditions, but it’s a way out of the physical and emotional pain they would have to face. However, not everyone agrees with this claim.

Now, I know that the other side may address the fact that the death penalty is extremely inhumane. I do understand what these people are saying, one example of this is  Doyle Hamm. According to the death penalty information center. “For 2.5 hours, the executioners tried to find a vein, leaving Hamm with ten-twelve puncture marks.” (2017) No person deserves to suffer in this way however, people are currently working on a different way to administer death into the souls of criminals. This new way is called Nitrogen inhalation. According to  Stephanie Pappas, a publisher at live science. This new method of execution does not cause the same panicked feeling that suffocating does. You breathe the gas normally, it has no odor, taste, smell, or color. After 1-5 minutes you pass out, death soon follows painlessly. (2018) This new method would make the death penalty more bearable for the criminals who don’t want to meet their end. Not to mention the fact that lethal injections do normally work. According to Britannica, most of the time, lethal injections take 5 minutes to complete and the criminal is normally dead after 2 minutes. (2013)  This demonstrates that the death penalty isn’t inhumane. It’s over in a flash with little to no pain. Scientists also continue to find new ways to take someone’s life with as much ease as possible.

The death penalty should be legal. It helps give families needed closure by providing retribution, It prevents criminals from escaping and causing more families pain, and it’s more humane than being isolated in prison for years to come. Not having the death penalty could someday affect your own family. Besides, do you really want criminals to have the option to be able to escape prison or even gain parole? The death penalty could be the difference between you being able to sleep at night knowing a horrible criminal can’t hurt you because they’re deep in the dirt. Or, being restless with fear because this fugitive could still be at large. I mean, let’s face the facts, the death penalty has been around for hundreds of years. So ask yourself, why would we prohibit something that keeps innocent people safe and criminals far away from harming anyone ever again?