Capital Punishment is Not Only Unusual, But Cruel
The most widely known aspect of the eighth amendment is the fact that
it prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. Cruel and unusual punishment is
perceived as punishment that causes "an unnecessary and wanton infliction of
pain" (Bailey). Is capital punishment cruel and unusual? It is one of the most
controversial topics in America today. In effect since the 1600s, the US
Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was "cruel and unusual" in 1972
but reversed this decision when a "cleaner" way to bring about death was
found in 1976 (Encarta). This "cleaner" way is death by lethal injection,
which is quick and painless if administered correctly. Capital punishment is
used for many different reasons and has been enforced in many different
methods through the years, for "when crime mounts in the US, the demand
for punishment also increases" (Rottenberg 569). Is it right for us to be able
to kill another human being......
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