Many arguments concerning Capital Punishment have surfaced for many years in American and World history. People from all over the world have their own opinions on this topic. Religious beliefs, human rights, and public safety are among the top most talked about regarding Capital Punishment. The death penalty is a very emotional issue that has had the world in an uproar for centuries. Capital Punishment is a highly debatable issue that should be made legal in the United States because it is documented in the bible, public safety will increase dramatically, jail does not necessarily help those convicted, it lowers crime rates and puts fear into future murderers (B.Phil1-4).
Capital Punishment, also known as the death penalty, is person sentenced to death whom has committed a serious crime. The death penalty has a very long history. It was written in Hammurabi's Code and the Old Testament of the bible. It was used in ancient Greek and Roman times. Ancient historian Plutarch wrote in the Draconian Code,
"under the Draconian Code almost any kind of offense was liable to the death penalty, so that even those convicted of idleness were executed, and those who stole fruit or vegetables suffered the same punishment as those who committed sacrilege or murder."(Plutarch 11) The first documented execution was in the Jamestown Colony in
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Virginia in 1608. Captain George Kendell was hung for treason. Most crimes committed
during the colonial era, such as Murder, heresy, rape and witchcraft, resulted with the death penalty. In Salem, MA in 1692, 19 people were hanged for witch craft. These "witches" were said to have spread evil among Salem. Though witch craft ended in the early 1700's, the death penalty carried over into the middle ages and the modern period. Though it was consider a "cruel and unusual punishment", many countries still use capital punishment today. By 1999, about sixty five countries had gotten rid of the death penalty. Some countries, like Africa and the Caribbean, still use it for treason and war related crimes. ("capital punishment" American History 1-7).
Capital Punishment can be performed in numerous ways, some ways are humane, others are not. Hanging was the most common in the 17th century. It was used a lot during the Salem witchcraft era. Criminals stand on a raised platform also known as gallows. Their hands are tied behind their backs with a hood over their head. The executioner is wearing a hood over his head with eye holes cut into it. They place the noose, or rope, around the prisoners neck. The executioner lets go of the trap door and the prisoner falls. Within seconds the rope snaps. "The force of this drop and stop breaks the bones in the executee's neck and severes his spinal cord causing him to go into medical shock and be rendered unconscious. At this point the executee strangles to death."(1990 State of Delaware. "Execution by Hanging Operation and Instruction Manual") Hanging is now only authorized in three states since 1977, Washington, Delaware and New Hampshire. There has been three hangings in the United States since 1977 (Gottfried, Ted 37).
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Another way to perform the Death Penalty is by using a firing squad or an electric
chair. The firing squad is done with great care step by step. The prisoner is strapped into a
chair around sandbags. A black hood is placed on his or her head, while a doctor finds where the heart is located and puts a white cloth over it. Four or five men stand about twenty feet away with 30-caliber rifles. These executioners stand far away and shoot at the same time. This way no one knows exactly who actually kills the prisoner (Gottfried, Ted 37-38).
The Electric chair is also used to kill someone. It is considered more humane. William Kemmler was the first person ever killed by electrocution on August 6, 1890 in New York Auburn prison. This is also taken step by step. First an official shaves the prisoners head. Secondly, the prisoner is escorted to the death chamber. He or she is strapped into a wooden chair. A metal cap is placed on top of his head with one wet sponge placed on to his leg. The wet sponge is full of Saline lotion which helps conduct electricity. Wires are connected behind the prisoner and connected to the metal cap on the prisoners head. Electrodes are connected to the criminals leg. Two or more executioners do the electrocution. They use a switch or key to turn on the 2,300 volts. The prisoner receives three jolts and he or she are dead in seconds. Sometimes this method doesn't go by fast. It once was recorded that it took nineteen minutes to electrocute someone. About 4,400 people were executed by an electric chair in America since 1890. Alabama and Nebraska are the last two states that use an electric chair (Gottfried, Ted 38-41).
Another way to perform capital punishment is using a gas chamber. Gas chambers first started being used in New York in 1924. The chamber is very tiny, normally four feet


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by ten feet. It is six sided, painted all gray, and contains windows for witnesses. Prisoners are strapped into a chair. Pipes pump out sulfuric acid under the chair. A button is pushed
to add hydrogen cyanide gas. This is not humane because prisoner suffers up to a half
hour strangling in their chair (Gottfried, Ted 41-42).
Death by Lethal Injection is the most humane and the most common in the United States. Oklahoma was the first state to execute a prisoner by lethal injection in 1977. Five years after Oklahoma, Texas killed their first prisoner by Lethal injection. Supporters of the death penalty believe this is more humane and less costly. Chemicals are in three drip bags connected to a tube that goes into the death chamber into a Catheter. Needles are put into the veins of the prisoners arm. Executioners press different buttons and a computer randomly picks the button to release the chemicals. The first chemical, Sodium Thiopental, puts the prisoner to sleep. The second chemical, Poncuronium Bromide paralyzes lungs and diaphragm and the third chemical is Potassium Chloride which stops the heart. "There's no cringing, no shuddering, clunching of fists. Its very clinical, very unemotional "(William Kunkle 43).
Some people believe that capital punishment is the right thing to do if someone has committed a very serious crime such as murder. It should be made legal in the United States for numerous reasons. Peoples religious beliefs is a big part that has to do with the death penalty. Capital punishment has been around since ancient times. It is documented in the bible in the Old Testament as well as Hammurabi's Code. Many people want it to
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be legal because it was part of history. Public safety is a major issue with convicts who
have committed serious crimes. People who receive the death penalty normally committed a very serious crime and are not safe to be out on the streets. Capital Punishment makes it safe for prison guards, other in mates, and the general public
("capital punishment" American History 1-7).
Jail is also a big part. Though jail keeps the prisoners locked up for a certain
amount of years and helps make them become better people, prisoners end up leaving jail eventually and many might repeat their crimes again. If they killed someone, they would leave jail with no real punishment, and besides, jail cost much more than giving them the death penalty. There are many that argue though, about the cost of jail with the cost of life (B.Phil 1-4).
Many people believe in an "eye for an eye". If a person committed a extreme crime, an extreme punishment should take place on that person. Many cities and towns have lower crime rates if capital punishment is used. Once the criminals receive the death penalty, they will never be out on the streets again and they will never be able to repeat their crime. If capital punishment is used, it may put fear into future criminals. Knowing that if you kill someone or commit any other serious crime, that person will receive the death penalty. With fear of the death penalty in their minds, future criminals are less likely to commit murder or any other crime (B.Phil 2-4).
Where there are people for capital punishment, there are also many people who oppose the death penalty. This very debatable issue has many reasons that capital punishment should be made illegal in the United States. First off, many people think

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capital punishment is not humane and not right. Its not humane to kill someone, whether or not that criminal committed murder. Many say it violates human rights to live. Its a "cruel and unusual punishment". There has been times in which the wrong people have been committed, some people were proven to be innocent but it was to late (B.Phil 2-4).
Religion also has a lot to do with making capital punishment illegal. People say that god believes everyone should die naturally. If criminals receive the death penalty,
they have no time to find god and change. Even life in jail, some people say, is better than the death penalty. Criminals are able to stay alive and find god. They have a chance to be forgiven. Frankly, the biggest issue is the pain brought on by being killed. Certain death penalties can be painless, but others could be very painful. There are different cultures with different ways of suffering. Its one thing that the prisoner feels pain but its another thing where the observers have to watch a painful and unforgetful death (B.Phil 3-4).
Capital Punishment has been around for many centuries. Its a big part of the world history. Yes, people believe its not a good alternative but it is the right thing to do. Criminals need to understand that it is obviously not okay to commit serious crimes and they should know that they will be convicted and punished for what they committed. There has been 13,000 people executed since the colonial times. Since 2002, twelve states do not have capital punishment. Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and also the District of Columbia. With Capital punishment made legal in the United States, it will be much safer for the public knowing that everyday their are criminals being convicted
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for serious crimes that will never be able to see the light of day again. Therefore, Capital
Punishment should be made legal in the United States because it is documented in the bible, public safety will increase dramatically, jail does not necessarily help those convicted, it lowers crime rates and puts fear into future murderers (Religious Tolerance 1-5).