system since the earliest of times. The Babylonian Hammurabi Code(ca.

1700 B.C.) decreed death for crimes as minor as the fraudulent sale of

beer(Flanders 3). Egyptians could be put to death for disclosing the

location of sacred burial sites(Flanders 3). However, in recent times

opponents have shown the death penalty to be racist, barbaric, and in

violation with the United States Constitution as "...cruel and unusual

punishment." In this country,although laws governing the application

of the death penalty have undergone many changes since biblical

times, the punishment endures, and controversy has never been greater.

A prisoner's death wish cannot grant a right not otherwise

possessed. Abolitionists maintain that the state has no right to kill

anyone. The right to reject life imprisonment and choose death should

be respected, but it changes nothing for those who oppose the death at

The death penalty is irrational- a fact that should carry

considerable weight with rationalists. As Albert Camus pointed out, "

Capital punishment....has always been a religious punishment and is

decision was once more revised and ruled the death penalty once more

publicity to be over. Yet. if it wasn't for the sensationalism

raise immediate misgivings for freethinkers.

state killings. Quite a few leaders in the abolishment movement became

involved specially because someone they loved was murdered. Family of

penalty at the hands of the state more dedicated to vengeance than to

Long, Robert Emmet. Criminal Sentencing. New York, NY: H.W. Company,

difficulties involved in the administration of the death penalty.

Juveniles are subject to the death penalty. Since state

-The victim was a police or correctional officer in the line of duty.

population as a whole are black(Flanders 25). In cases with white

main reasons- in addition to justice- was they wanted all the

Some common words found in the essay are:
Human Rights, Camus Capital, Political Analysts, Dick Perry, Supreme Court, United Constitution, Hammurabi Codeca, California April, death penalty, Ray Rector, capital punishment, Capital Punishment, dick perry, mentally retarded, death row, cruel unusual punishment, unusual punishment, york ny, -the crime, cruel unusual, death-row inmates, criminal justice system, white victims black,
Approximate Word count = 1464
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)