rty states that have the death penalty. (Doerr 2) Since 1967 there has been one execution for every 1600 murders. There has been approximately 560,000 murders and 358 executions from 1967 to 1996. Almost 5900 people have been sentenced to death and only 358 executed. Most often people compare execution and murder. They believe if two acts have the same ending or result, then the acts are morally equivalent. For instance, are kidnapping and legal incarceration the same? They both involve imprisonment against ones will. Is killing in self defense the same as capital murder? Both end in taking human life. The moral confusion of some people are astounding. Some equate the American death penalty with Nazi holocaust. People see no moral distinction between the slaughter of 12 million totally innocent men, women and children and the executions of societys worst human rights violators. (Death Penalty 1) There are also a great deal of religious issues with the death penalty. The bible states clearly Thou shall not murder. Does this mean, under certain circumstances? In Genesis 9:6, it states God himself instituted the death penalty. God gave to the government legitimate authority to use capital punishment to restrain murder and to punish murderers. The death penalty is a flagrant disregard for Gods divine law which Walker 3 recognizes the dignity of human life as a product of Gods creation. Life is sacred, and that is why God instituted the death penalty. Consequently, whoever takes innocent human life forfeits his own right to live. (20) There are different executions in every state and country. The classic form of execution, still in use in several states, is hanging. When the person is hung, the neck is broken. If the drop is too short, there will be a slow, agonizing death by strangulation. If the drop is too long the head is to...
