Advocacy and Evaluation

Abstract

The death penalty in Delaware deserves 100% support. With advocacy and evaluation of the facts, it will be evidently clear why this is so. Society and the legislation, has regularly used various forms of punishment to deter, intimidate and discourage the criminality of unlawful behavior. It is believed, that our communities and society alike, have high stakes, in the ability to prevent murders and adverse behaviors. Therefore, it is strongly supported and encouraged, for the death penalty, to also be used as the strongest form of punishment in society that courts and legislation can use to deter, intimidate and discourage the criminality of unlawful behaviors; live by the gun, and die by the gun.

Anti- Death Penalty

Each day, more citizens are expressing their reservations and apprehensions about the use of capital punishments. To cut to the chase, most pharmaceutical companies, that in the past, had previously supplied the drugs used in the lethal injections in the death penalty executions, have grown increasingly unwilling, at some point over the decades, to continue to sell their products simply for the sole purpose of killing another human being.

Exactly how long must it take, before we, the people of the United States of America, begin to realize that by our continuous acceptance and support of the actions (that many others view as barbaric), we are still continuing to make ourselves victims, in the eyes of the greater world. The decision is so clear. It’s simple, we can either begin to work in a fashion that doesn’t appear offensive to the rest of the world, or we can begin to plant our feet firmly, and simply follow suit and do as we please.

We may not want to accept the reality, but truth be told, and whether we choose to accept it or not, our country’s prosperity will be greatly determined by all of our decisions surrounding this subject. While these decisions, to continue to enforce capital punishment, haven’t necessarily made a huge impression upon Americans, as of yet, we are still at a place, to begin feeling the ill effects of what being ostracized is all about. It is evident, even by our allies. Economically, we are suffering as well, and from a standpoint of trade, our European allies have begun to refuse to export just about any drug to (and from) the US that may possibly end up being used for imposing the death penalty. This is further added and compounded, by the mere facts, that many of our domestic brand pharmaceutical companies have very long-standing and strong ties to their European counterparts. Practices must be adopted and implemented that do not place them at odds with these business allies, owners and partners.

Back in the early 1970’s court, legislation was not fully supporting the death penalty, in that Supreme Justices were divided on its validity and success rates for deterrence (Zeisel, 1976). From a diplomatic standpoint, we are seeing other countries’ increasing resistance to the US attempts to extradite people who may have been convicted of capital crimes, here, in this country.

Pro Death Penalty

In 1662, Delaware saw its very first death penalty case, with the state’s first hanging. This was the state’s main/official method of execution in history. It didn’t end until 1986 when lethal injection became the implemented revised method of execution in the state. Over the decades, the legislative position has drastically changed, with Delaware repealing and ultimately reinstating the death penalty. If a murderer, that is worthy of capital punishment, is sentenced to death through execution, it may be a deterrent for potential wrongdoers; they should have that fear as well, of losing their freedom and their life. Professor of Jurisprudence and advocate of deterrence in crime, Ernest Van Den Haag, of Fordham University in New York said, "I cannot accept the abolitionist belief that there is no crime horrible enough to deserve capital punishment. On the contrary, there are far more crimes that do than there are death sentences. All the more reason to argue for the death penalty and not to spare the few who do receive it. (Van Den Haag, E. 1985)." He is a clear supporter of the death penalty (particularly in Delaware) and he has substantiated and legitimate facts to support his base.

Living life, only to carry the burden of murder, is not enough. Death is the only option for some. One’s life should be taken away when a life is taken away. Capital Punishment absolutely works to deter these murderers. However, and talking strictly, it is really just a simplistic form of being incapacitated. An example I like to use is that of someone who constantly steals from a local convenient store. This criminal is locked up to be punished for stealing from the store. That’s it…no real retribution. Once they are released, if the mind hasn’t changed, and if there has not been an adequate level of punishment and sanctions imposed, then it is believed, that they will re-offend. The rates of recidivism in the state of Delaware are profound. The murderers must be stopped altogether, in order to prevent them from murdering again and the only way a murderer can be stopped is to execute them. Murderers are vicious, thoughtless, heartless criminals. Corinna Barrett Lain stated in her journal article, “When the Supreme Court is deciding death, how much does law matter” (Lain, 2007)? This question is profound, in that how much are we really evaluating the validity and importance of someone's life- sometimes, we have to do what is right, and the reality is that many people walking this earth are cruel and have behaved so cruelly that they do not deserve to live.

As a complete deterrent, the death penalty helps the efforts and produces ways to prevent any future criminal activity. Therefore, the mere thought, or the threat of the death penalty itself, may successfully deter crime or the attempts at criminal behavior. One major fact is that Delaware is a smart state and the state understands the importance of the death penalty.

In conclusion, advocacy and evaluation have sealed the deal and the state of Delaware is speaking loud and clear. The state has only granted one opportunity for clemency to a death row inmate. This took place with Robert Gattis, just 2 years ago on January 17, 2012. Now, if all states could be structured like the state of Delaware, the United States would be a safer place.

References

Lain, C. (2007). Deciding death. Duke Law Journal, 57(1), 1-83.

Samuelson. (1969). Why was capital punishment restored in Delaware? The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, 60(2) (1969),

Van Den Haag, E. (1985). "Death or life, new arguments against capital punishment? National Review,

Zeisel, H. (1976). The deterrent effect of the death penalty: Facts v. faiths. The supreme court Review, 976, 317.

Delaware Senate approves repeal of death penalty. (2013). Associated Press.