Capital Punishment Essay - We Need the Death Penalty :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

We Need the Death Penalty         For the past several years Americans deliver regularly listed offensive activityand violence as the number - one problem facing the nation, farther surpassingworries over the economy or health care.         despite the many government and community initiatives launchedduring recent years to reduce crime, most Americans see no improvement. Ina 1993 survey asking respondents if they felt crime was increasing ordecreasing in their areas, only 5 % felt that it was decreasing, a full 93% felt that crime was either increasing or staying the same. And it is notjust statistics I consider myself along with those 93 %. Because whileGuiliani administration is talking about crime rates in the unsanded York citygoing down, all I  see and hear in the media are reports about horriblecrimes committed by New Yorkers.         As George Pettinico states in his cla use Crime and punishmentAmerica changes its mind The medias extensive coverage of crime,especially the most brutal and horrific cases hold up heightened the publicsfear and anger over this cut to a near frenzy. When asked in January ofthis year, How often do you see reports of violent crime on television ? 68 % replied almost every day .         Although the media have played an important role in raising thepublics awareness of lawlessness, crime in America is far from a media -created phenomenon. Government statistics support the image of a nationwhich has overwhelmingly lost the war against crime. For instance, in 1960there were 161 reported violent crimes per 100,000 people By 1992, thefigure had jumped to 758 per 100,000 -- a rise of over 350 %.         to a greater extent and more people today are starting to think that something isterribly wrong when a modern, civilized nation must confront statisticslike th ese. The American public is demanding an end to this violence, andsurveys show that they believe swift and harsh punishment is the mostappropriate and effective means to these ends.         The death penalty, or as it is sometimes being called capitalpunishment is the hardest punishment that could be received when a personis convicted of a capital offense. Until recently it did not exist in NewYork State but after new governor, George Pataki was elected he managed tobring it back. Since September 1, 1994 the death penalty law was in effect.And even though, as far as I know, there is no strong statistical evidencethat the death penalty lowers the murder rate, many people were very happy