Death Penalty Reduces and Prevents Crimes, Say 55%

Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is a state-sanctioned practice of killing a person as a punishment for a crime – usually rather  severe crimes. A “death sentence” is a judgment ordering that a criminal is punished in this way.

Some punishable-by-death crimes are mass murder, aggravated rape, terrorism, aircraft hijacking, war crimes, genocide, treason, and more.

The first capital punishment laws were enacted as early as the eighteenth century B.C. The death penalty was enshrined in the Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon, a collection of 282 rules that established standards for commercial interactions and set fines and punishments to meet the requirements of justice.

The following methods of execution have been used by various countries, most commonly hanging, practiced by 22 different countries. Not to mention, firing squad, lethal injection, electrocution, gas inhalation, decapitation, and stoning. These execution methods are much faster and less painful than the ancient methods.

As of 2022, most countries followed the abolition of capital punishment, whereas a few still retain it but with instant and painless methods.

Real Research launched a survey on public opinion on capital punishment to gather further information about capital punishment and public views on this matter.

Highlights:

• Five in ten (53.25%) believe that capital punishment is highly justified
• Lethal injection: 32.99% answered as the most appropriate method of capital punishment
• 52.61% are against the abolishment of capital punishment

Is the Death Penalty Immoral?

According to a Pew Research Center article on this subject:

“[S]upport for the death penalty is strongly associated with a belief that when someone commits murder, the death penalty is morally justified. Among the public overall, 64% say the death penalty is morally justified in cases of murder.”

Likewise, we asked our respondents’ opinions on this. We received similar results as the above article — 53.25% said it was highly justified, while 2.54% said otherwise.

Is There a Humane Way to Execute?

The Story of Charles Brooks Jr., the First Person To Be Executed Using Lethal Injection

Charles Brooks Jr. was a convicted murderer who was the first person executed using lethal injection. According to Wikipedia, in December 1976, Brooks went to a used car lot to test drive a car. After the mechanic escorted him on the drive, Brooks stopped by to pick up his accomplice. They both tied up the mechanic and shoved him in the trunk of the car.

The mechanic was bound to a chair with coat hangers, gagged with tape, and then shot in the head.

Brooke was charged with capital punishment and awaited death row on April 1978. He was reportedly executed with lethal injection. According to one witness, Brook simply yawned and heaved his stomach, and minutes later, he was pronounced dead.

Since then, lethal injection has been declared a “painless” and “instant” execution method.

Similarly, our next poll asks the respondents about the most appropriate method of capital punishment. The results are as follows:

The majority (32.99%) stated that lethal injection is the most appropriate method of execution, followed by 24.15% who chose death by hanging. 15.63% said firing squad, 14.64% said electrocution, and 12.6% said gas chamber.

The Abolishment of Capital Punishment

The abolishment movement grew in strength in northeast America in the early to mid-19th century. Many states reduced the number of capital offenses they prosecuted in the early part of the century while constructing state prisons.

Nowadays, most countries do the same, but only a few hold onto capital punishment.

According to our survey, 47.39% are in favor of the abolishment of the death penalty, compared to 52.61% who are against it.

The Death Penalty Debate

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Death Penalty

Some people say that the pros of the death penalty are the best way to keep a country civilized with less number of crimes. 55.03% say that it discourages and prevents crimes, 22.57% say it’s a form of compensation for the victims, and 15.83% say “justice for further heinous crimes.”

On the other hand, it continues the cycle of violence, may criticize religious arguments against the death penalty, and the death penalty is not cost-effective.

“If Capital Punishment Were Abolished, What Do You Think Would Be the Reason for Its Abolishment?”

Results show that the main reason would be the possibility of executing an innocent person, 22.12% pointed out the negative effects on society. 13.38% stated inhumane practices, and 4.21% said religious or moral issues.

How Would You Feel if Someone Close to You was a Victim of a Crime?

Moving on, many people (27.71%) who are close to their victims of a crime surprisingly said that they would never want the preparator to face the death penalty, whereas 21.8% said yes but only if proven guilty. 21.59% stated that it might depend on the crime committed, and 17.6%, without hesitation, said absolutely.

On the other hand, 12.2% said no, and would request rehabilitation.

Similarly, the next poll asked the opposite. If someone close to you committed a crime, what would you feel? Results show that 41.2% said they would want the perpetrator to face the death penalty. 29.77% said the same, but only if proven guilty, 19.9% said it might depend on the crime committed, and 4.63% would request rehabilitation.

The last poll asks the respondents which of the following is an appropriate sentence for an atrocious crime. Results show that 21.8% said capital punishment, 19.94% said life imprisonment with no bail, 16.25% said the same but with the possibility of bail, and lastly, 13.3% said rehabilitation.