It is probably the most controversial punishment in human history, and maybe the oldest. The death penalty is a punishment in the United States since it got established. Over the last couple decades, the reasons for its use and how people are executed have changed quite a lot. However, the most recent method used was the lethal injection and it was considered the “most humane way” of taking the life of a living being.

Many states in the US, including California, are enforcing a death penalty and according to public opinion, society accepts death as a punishment in wide parts of the country. One of the main arguments is, that if the accused is 100% confirmed to be responsible, it is okay to kill him.

The death penalty started to face a big problem in 2012, as companies stopped to supplying the United States with the drugs that are used to execute the death sentence. They do not want their drugs, which were designed to help people, to the exact opposite. But in general the opposition of official organizations rose over the last couple years. For example, doctors are recommended to refuse to participate in executions, but without doctors, the execution cannot be performed.

As a consequence of the drug shortage, many states started to search for a different way to execute. Utah, for example, reintroduced death by shooting, if there is no supply of the needed drugs. The State of Ohio recently approved death by nitrogen gas. According to the NY Daily News, other death penalty states are also considering methods like shooting or gas, but also consider “old, proven” ways like electrocution.

In Boston, the main terrorist of the “Boston Marathon Bombing” was just found guilty of murder by the jury and might face the death penalty. Many people were heavily injured and killed at the attack and some are still suffering the aftermath because they lost limbs or suffered other permanent damage. Even though this terrorist attack was a horrible attack on the US, opinions about the fate of the criminal are divided. Some want him dead, while some say that would be too easy of a punishment.

For many groups that are trying to protect human rights as well as trying to abolish the death penalty completely, the reintroduction of old execution methods were more than worrying ideas. The protest all over the world against the death penalty got louder and if one looks closer towards other nations, it becomes clear that there are fewer and fewer countries that actually execute frequently. The United States is one of the few culturally Christian countries that frequently kill death row inmates, led by the state of Texas with the highest number of executions of all states.

Also, one of the main arguments for the death penalty, that it is 100% proven that the person is guilty, took a big hit last weekend April 18. The FBI admitted that their DNA analysis of hair has failed in more than 30 cases since 1970. This might not sound like a lot, but a few of the people sentenced to death were convicted by even that DNA analysis. Now voices have gotten louder that they may have been innocent. Two of those people were already executed. Members of the families of those people are now demanding an answer from the government and the FBI about how such a thing could happen.

The judicial system of the United States now has trouble of justifying its decisions. Some of the cases may have to be reviewed further by the government. The rope around the neck of the judicial system is slowly getting tighter. Also, many states decided to postpone executions for the time being until the FBI matter is solved, as well as until it is determined which methods should be used to execute death row inmates.

In my opinion, the problems the death penalty in the United States is facing right now, might lead to it being abolished. In the eyes of many this kind of punishment is outdated and cruel and I have to say I approve of that view . People are sometimes made to wait 15 to 30 years before they get executed. It is a high psychological pressure for them, and I believe that those people, even though they killed someone, should not face the same fate as their victims. I believe that in the 21st century, the human race, especially in such a developed country like the United States, should be able to forgive those who committed a crime and at least give them a chance to improve.

 Of course, people who killed another human should not be allowed to see the outside world ever again, but sometimes the realization of what you did is worse than death. A life behind thick walls is worse than anything. But they still are human beings and they deserve a certain amount of respect. How can you teach someone to value life, if you take their life as “revenge”?

The death penalty is no longer an option. It is time for the world to realize that. Also, the argument that the death penalty would prevent crimes because people are getting afraid of the consequences is not true as statistics show that countries with the death penalty have more crimes than ones without it. I believe that it will depend on the next government decisions to determine how the death penalty will develop. It is now up to the public to make a decision if they want the death penalty, even though there are more arguments against it than in favor of it.

Also, with the FBI scandal people’s minds might change, as they might lose trust in the police and the judicial system. Only time will tell how this issue develops, but I expect the death penalty to disappear from the United States within the next 20 years.

What do you think? Do you still have full trust in the police and the justice system? Do you like the death penalty or do you think it is time for the U.S. to end this chapter? Tell us your opinion in the comments below. We appreciate everyone’s opinion.