The death penalty is promoted in probably the two most important literary writings that America has ever had or revered; The Constitution and the Bible. ... Another source, besides the Constitution, that promotes and implies that the punishment for murder is death, and that the death penalty is a deterrent, is the Bible. ... The first evidence in the Old Testament comes from Genesis 9:6 which states, "Whoever sheds blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image." ... Many people attempt to use the Bible as a form of rationale for opposing the death penalty. ...

• Word Count: 3361
• Approx Pages: 13

It is one of the most known verses in the Christian Bible. ... I feel that the majority of those who support the death penalty are not aware of many important facts and statistics, which if they were aware of would dramatically affect their views. ... Instead, if this were invested productively, at a conservative 5% rate of return, that sum would yield $45,000 per year; more than enough to support a "lifer- in jail indefinitely, with enough money left over to go some distance toward hiring an additional jail guard or police officer (Capital Punishment: Facts pg 1-2). ...

• Word Count: 2619
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School