The death penalty, a very controversial and important topic nowadays. With more and more people speaking out against the moral issues with taking any person’s life, it’s hard to stray away from the idea that it might actually be necessary. I understand that this is a sensitive topic, but there is no use in ignoring it. So I’ve been compiling facts and ideas to figure out where I stand on the issue. Whether it’s for or against it. 
First, it just seems wrong. Taking any person’s life is a hard thing to wrap your head around. Even with these serial killers, I still can’t figure out if a person deserves to die. I want to say that they do but that is a big decision to make. There also is a misconception with the “satisfaction” that the family of a victim might feel when their family member’s killer is put on death row. It would seem that the family member would reach a place of peace knowing that the terrible person that took everything away from them is now gone for good and can’t hurt anyone else. But that’s not the case. Research by Marilyn P. Armour and Mark S. Umbreit states that “family members of a victim experience higher levels of behavioral, physical, and psychological health when a perpetrator is given a life sentence that is enforced instead of the death penalty” (Armour, Umbreit). This means that families suffer less trauma when they see the killer of their loved one in prison than seeing them die on death row. This makes a good amount of sense because decent people will sympathize with anyone’s death, and no one wants to see another person die, no matter what things that person has done. Death is sensitive to everyone.
One major reason why the death penalty could be a beneficial option to keep available is because of the overcrowding in American prisons. The United States has the highest population of people in prisons. Whether it’s for petty drug offenses or assault and murder, something needs to change. And the reality is that the death penalty can and has reduced some of those numbers with good side effects.
Americas “occupancy level nationwide [is] standing at 103.9 percent” obviously meaning that there are too many inmates in prison at the moment, a lot of the cells are actually filled with petty crimes by first-time offenders like possession of marijuana. (McCarthy). Yes, there is no excuse for deviance and breaking the law, but that cell should be saved for serious offenders who pose a physical threat to society.
From seeing the benefits and drawbacks of the death penalty, I’m still not sure what I would want to do if I had a decision about the death penalty and how it can be used. Controversial topics like these provide good thinking points, but when putting these ideas in practice, It seems impossible to create the best answer.
I agree it is a tough decision whether or not to end someone’s life. But, I feel you wouldn’t truly know how you feel unless a member of your family or a close friend’s life was taken by said person. I feel if I were in the victim’s family shoes, I would want justice.
I can understand why you would be confused on your stance on the death penalty, it is a very sensitive topic. I am also not sure about my feelings about this subject an the whole prison system in general. All that I know for sure is that in a perfect world a death sould not be paid by killing another person. But we do not live in a perfect world. Some people do deserve to die because of the crimes that they have commited in our society. I don’t think that the death penatly should be outlawed, I believe that we need to take a closer look at the people that are being placed in death row, and also look into the prisoners that are filling up the prisons throughout the United States.
The death penalty is something that I feel is appropriate for the highest level of crimes. If someone does something terrible, why should they be provided with shelter and food for the rest of their lives? While it is something that is very hard to accept, I believe it is the right thing to do for a person who takes the life of someone else.
Firstly, I agree that this topic is very sensitive, yet we cannot ignore it. I don’t see a lot about this topic, so I’m glad that you have chosen to discuss it. I can’t really take a stance on this subject as I am very in the middle. But I definitely think the death penalty is immoral. Sure, it is being done only to those who have done a crime so bad that it may be needed. Instead of the death penalty, I think someone who has come to jail, due to committing a murder, should be kept in jail the rest of their life. Just because they did murder someone, it does not mean that they, in return, need to be put to death. Just being in jail for the rest of their life is punishment enough, as it takes away some of their freedoms.