IssuesMatch: Death Penalty

IssuesMatch

Death Penalty

POSITIONS

Strongly Support means you believe: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life. The death penalty is appropriate punishment for murder, as a form of justice regardless of the deterrence effect.
Support means you believe: The death penalty and other strict forms of law enforcement will reduce the crime rate by removing criminals from the streets and by deterring others from criminal acts. Capital punishment laws should be enforced, although perhaps adjusted to ensure a fair process and to avoid mistakes.
Oppose means you believe: The death penalty has been unfairly implemented, especially along racial and class lines. And the mistakes that are made cannot be rectified, so capital punishment should be banned.
Strongly Oppose means you believe: State-sanctioned killing is wrong. Capital punishment should be abolished as a form of 'cruel and unusual punishment.'

This question is looking for your views on whether capital punishment is "cruel and unusual " under the 8th Amendment. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

Capital punishment is effective
No one has proven a "wrongful death" in any modern state executions
Stricter penalties reduce violent crime

BACKGROUND

Capital Punishment

The death penalty is currently implemented in 30 states. It was re-legalized by a Supreme Court decision in 1977. Since then, 552 people have been executed. About 3,335 inmates remain on ‘Death Row.’ Texas is by far the national leader in executions -- it has executed 178 people as of June 1999, 32% of the national total.

Much of the current controversy about the death penalty focuses on the circumstances where it should be applied, and on its unequal application among racial and socioeconomic classes. About 52% of death row inmates are Black or other minority, versus 17% in the general population. Over 98% of death row inmates are male.

Amendments V and VIII to the US Constitution

V. No person shall... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.... (1791)
VIII. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. (1791)

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