The Death Penalty Is Dead Wrong :: Capital Punishment

Why the death Penalty is Dead WrongMost people argue that the death penalty is not a form of cruel andunusual punishment. However, this is extremely inaccurate. Electric chairvictims can take up to 14 minutes to die, maintaining full consciousness astheir physical body begins to scorch and burn off. During lethal injection, "even aslight error in dosage or administration can leave a prisoner consciousbut paralyzed with pain, serving as a witness for his own demise." Thefollowing is an eye witness account of an Arizona gas domiciliate execution givenby Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens "When the fumes enveloped Donshead he took a quick breath. A a couple of(prenominal) seconds later, he looked again in mydirection. His face was red and contorted as if he were attempting to fightthrough tremendous pain. His mouth was pursed shut and his jaw was clutchtight. Don then took several more quick gulps of the fumes. His bodystarted convulsing violently and his skin tur ned a deep red...the viens in histemple and neck began to down until I thought they might explode. After abouta minute, Dons face leaned partially forward, but he was still veryconscious. He was shuddering uncontrollably and his body was racked with spasms.His head continued to snap bottom. His fists were clenched tightly. Afterseveral more minutes, the most violent of the convulsions subsided. At thistime, the muscles along Dons left arm and back began twitching in awavelike motion under his skin. Spittle drooled from his mouth. Don Harlingtook exactly ten minutes and 31 seconds to die. Approximately three monthslater, he was found innocent."And it wasnt the first time. Amnesty International sites that "from1900 to 1985 over 350 people sentenced to death were later found to beinnocent of the crimes charged. Some excaped execution by but minutes, but 23were actually executed. Within the last 20 years, 54 Americans undersentence of death have been released because of evide nce of their innocence."Unlike a bread and butter imprisonment, death offers no second chance. If new evidencesurfaces after the person has been executed, its too late to do anythingabout it.The death penalty doesnt save valuate payers any money, either. Manypeople have the misconception that criminals should not be allowed to "rotin jail" wasting tax payers money. However, a study conducted by the DeathPenalty Information Center (DPIC) concludes that tax payers pay anaverage of $3.2 million dollars per each death penalty case -- enough tosentence someone to long hundred years in a maximum security facility.The death penalty is also not a detterent to crime.