Why does the US still have the Death Penalty?

Question

Are there any other Western countries apart from the US who still maintain this?

WOW!! it must be working because the US murder rate is so low!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Because people still commit crime. Not really that tricky is it?

Answer 2

I'd say "because we're smart" except that it's hardly used and when it is, the process is horrid. The problem isn't the death penalty itself, however, but rather the whole appeals process that's allowed to linger on for years on end. Clearly guilty people can sit on death row for 30 years.

The government/courts need to set strict guidelines and timelines for appeals. Something along the lines of your attorney has 3 months to file an appeal, that appeal has to be heard within 2 months, and a final judgment must be made within that week. The courts need to stop letting attorneys file appeal after appeal just to prolong his client from getting the chair, or what have you.

Science and technology has improved leaps and bounds beyond what it was even 10 years ago. If there is clear, substantial evidence, there should be no need for 20 appeals.

Answer 3

The majority of states (38 States carry the death penalty) in the U.S. because that is what the people of this country (either through activism or apathy) have decided through their elected officials is proper punishment for certain capital crimes.

Canada abolished the death penalty in 1976.

As to why the U.S. has the death penalty. A good example of a individual recently in the news in John Coughy, who kidnapped 9 year old Jessica Lunsford from her bed at 3am, took her back to his place and raped her, kept her in closet for 3 days then tied her up, put her ina garbage bag and then buried her alive (she died from suffocation). If you were this girl's parent, or any parent for that matter, wouldn't you want to see a monster like this off the streets permanently?

Many will argue "why not just put someone in jail without the possibility of parole"? Why? Because with prison overcrowding, inmates getting credit for "good behavior", and clerical errors, a monster could end up getting out on parole and commit the crime again 10, 15, 20 years down the road.

Larry Singleton, the man who chopped off a 15 year old hitchhiker's arms and left her in the desert for dead only served 8 years, then was paroled, only to kill a prostitute that came to "service" him in his trailer.

Answer 4

Because. If you want murderers and rapists walking around unharmed and free, fine. They deserve the death penalty. That's all I have to say. May God bless us everyone.

Answer 5

I don't know about other western countries, but as far as I'm concerned there should be harsher penalties for things such as.. if you steal something you lose a hand or a finger.. guarantee crime rates would drop significantly.

Answer 6

Obviously, as anyone who picks up a newspaper and reads about our perpetual warring nation can see, we are a nation of primitive-brained barbarians. We have embraced the technological results of science and applied them to killing and stealing. Those who commit horrific crimes at the highest levels are praised and rewarded with political power and great riches. Those who commit these crimes at the lowest levels are chastised and executed as part of a ruse to convince the public that we are concerned with morality and decency.

Answer 7

Because it's good family entertainment to watch a murderous s.o.b. fry or get shot up with poison

Answer 8

The question should be- Why aren't capital punishment laws in the US more harsh? It needs to be used much more than it is!

Answer 9

Because there are still people who's actions warrant it.

Answer 10

because we need it, our prisons are to full, we should execute more people and show it on pay per view, give the money to the rich, so they can trickle it down


lol