ra as three 2000-volt shocks were administered (The Death Protocol). The case that really opened the door for capital punishment was Furman vs. Georgia. On August 11, 1963, William Henry Furman prepared to force his way into the back door of a house at 508 West 63rd street in Savannah Georgia (Furman vs. Georgia: The Constitution and the Death Penalty). All that he had planned on doing was robbing a supposedly empty house and selling his goods. If he had known what he was going to get into, he would have never tried it. Furman believed that no one was home in the dark house, but William Micke, his wife, and their five children were home asleep. Micke heard noises in the house, thinking it was his sleepwalking son; he went to check it out only to find Furman in his home. Furman panicked and tried to fun but Micke closed the door behind him. Furman fired once then exited the house. Unknown to Furman, he had hit Micke in the chest and he had died from his wounds. Lanell, wife of the victim called the police and they found Furman lying under his house. Furman was arrested and formally charged with murder. From this case, the Supreme Court stated that the use of capital punishment was not unconstitutional (Furman vs. Georgia: Constitution and the Death Penalty). Many opposers of the death penalty say that life in prison is just as good as the death penalty. They also say that a person can change. They would allow a convicted murder the chance for probation and a chance to kill again. They would also allow the convicted person to be on a work release program. Is the death penalty fair and just? That depends on the person and the circumstance, so who is right and who is wrong? That's up to the courts to decide....
