Doubts about the death penalty

The death penalty may seem cruel and gruesome to some people, but it can also bring closure to a victims family. This execution process contains many pros and cons, and people will have different opinions about it. Though almost everyone has had a feeling of doubt towards the death penalty, especially in Texas. Rick Perry became the governor of Texas in 2000, and ever since then, his state has executed 234 people. Because this is more than all other governors, it's not uncommon for people to believe that something is wrong with this process.

I, however, do not hold many doubts about the execution system, unlike the author of this article. It is stated that " Some proponents of the death penalty point to that last fact as further proof that the system works, and that innocent people are not executed. We, of course, have no way of knowing that." I do agree with that statement. Citizens will never be completely sure about if the inmate is guilty or not, unless they admit to the crime them self.  But a person would not be sent to trial if he or she was not committed of crime, and if there was no sufficient evidence. Then, after that person has been convicted of a capital crime, their case will be sent to the penalty phase, where the jury decides if the person will receive the death penalty or not. After being sent to a specific prison, the inmate will only be allowed one appeal because every citizen has Constitutional Rights. The appeal process contains four steps. " i. Automatic Appeal, ii. State Habeas Corpus Petition, iii. Federal Habeas Corpus Petition, and iv. Clemency." This, depending on whether or not the prisoner's case has been denied, will determine when the date for the execution will be held.

This shows that a person who is on death row or who has already been executed, is not just a random person who has been convicted for no apparent reason. The author gives one example of how a man who was executed in 2004, may have been wrongly convicted of starting a fire and killing his three daughters based on "fire science theories." In the only example given, we still do not know whether the man was guilty or innocent to this day. Though from the trial and penalty process, i am sure there was essential evidence provided, rather than only theories.

After reading this article, in my opinion, i do not believe Rick Perry should be viewed as an inappropriate governor for holding a state with the most executions in his time. Though maybe for other reasons he could be considered unfit for the job. The law is the law, and if a person has committed a capital crime, their punishment can result in a death penalty sentence.