Writing Assigment - Essay Example

In fact, it can be considered to be one of the most controversial topics with regard to law in a civilized society. The United States along with many countries in Asia still have laws that can sentence a person to death unlike most European nations, where this practice has been abolished. Even within country, not all states adhere to this law. Sixteen states in the country including the District of Columbia have removed death penalty as a form of punishment, but all other states still consider it lawful.

In other words, a majority of the states still follow this form of punishment. This practice was accepted in the country during the time of colonization from laws that existed in the host countries of the colonizers. They then became accepted or rejected among the different states as mentioned above. There are strong proponents and dissidents with regard to capital punishment. These attitudes could be based on religious beliefs, social customs, or their personal viewpoints. Those who are for capital punishment put forth the following arguments as justification.

Their primary reason is that members of the society have to be protected from criminals who commit more serious crimes like murder and capital crimes. It is the duty of the government to protect its citizens and that by providing death penalty; a capital crime will not be committed by the same person again. Their second reason is that this form of punishment will act as a warning and deterrent to other people with criminal tendencies. A death penalty risk will act as a strong deterrent and can help to prevent similar acts by other members of the society.

The third argument is that the relatives and loved ones of the victims are entitled to retribution. If someone has murdered a member of the family, then the members can only obtain justice, if the murderer is treated in the same manner. There are strong arguments against death penalty from various