The death penalty is perhaps the oldest form of punishment in the history of civilization and has been carried out hundreds of times in the United States since its founding in the late 1700's. Yet within the last one hundred years or so, the death penalty has come under much controversy and debate, usually as a moral/ethical argument between those that support it and those that are against it. Of course, those that support the death penalty, either by electrocution, hanging or lethal injection (which is currently the most accepted form), argue that it helps prevent crime as a deterrent; those against it point out that the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment and is not a deterrent, not to mention that it goes against certain religious/ethical beliefs. Yet when viewed as a deterrent, the death penalty is far superior to any other form of punishment, due to the fact that the criminal is put to death and cannot commit other crimes against society.
             As to the controversy over the death penalty in the United States, there have been wide differences in the public's attitude toward this practice which is reflected in numerous public opinion polls over the last twenty years. According to Hugo A. Bedau, "Although most polls show strong support for the death penalty, with a low of around sixty percent during the 1960's to the current rate of over seventy percent, this appears to have had little impact on death penalty legislation," (178), meaning that regardless of public opinion, federal and state legislative bodies have not taken into account public opinion on this matter. Those that advocate the death penalty, ranging from ordinary American citizens to governmental authorities and law enforcement
             officials, claim that "there is no viable alternative that provides equal protection for society"
             Many who are for life sentences for violent criminals, especially those guilty of murde
             ...