5/11/2012
Porterville/CA

Andres
Mr.Smith/Monache
The death penalty is constitutional in my opinion. Criminals who killed people more than once should be put to death since they also took the life’s of others and should have most of their rights taken away for that. I don’t think people with mental disabilities should be able to get the death penalty since they aren’t really sure what they were doing at the moment.

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5/10/2012
Porterville CA

Anthony
Smith/Monache
I believe that is constitutional. I believe if you take a life you should be able to risk your life. If you choose to kill someone you should be able to risk your life. I believe there should be restrictions on the death penalty but if they were the right restrictions then the death penalty should be constitutional.

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3/30/2012
Belleville/New York

Kayla
Miss.Colby/Belleville Henderson
I believe it is constitutional. I believe that if you can kill someone then you should be killed as well. Why have you live when you chose to kill someone else. I think the dealth penalty is a "easy" way seeming how i think if you slit someones throat and kill them, then someone should be able to do the same as you, but that has the authority to do so, like a cop.

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3/8/2012
Baltimore/Maryland

Antonio
Jones-Prettyman/Baltimore Talent Development
No. The death penalty is unconstitutional because everyone has love ones and people that love them. Plus, in the Declaration of Independence it says that you have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Even if you get convicted of killing a police officer, life should not be taken by lethal injection or by the electric chair. Life shouldn't be taken from no one, even the toughest criminals and serial killers. Citizens of the United States have the freedom of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Yes, people do some really bad things, but people can be punished without being killed. So, it's unnecessary to take a life.

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3/8/2012
Baltimore/Maryland

Dalonte
Jones-Prettyman/Baltimore Talent Development
The State should not be able to take your life because they did not give it to you, so they should not be able to take it. Under the Constution, they should be able to keep you locked up or let you go. They should not be able to kill you.

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3/8/2012
Baltimore/Maryland

Tatyana
Jones-Prettyman/Baltimore Talent Development
No, because in the Constitution it says that you have the right to life and liberty.

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2/1/2012
Porterville, California

John
Mr Smith of Monache High
Some people just have a desire to do things that can put a world in chaos knowing that they are out killing. However, we have to put our biased opinions to the person or people and realize that we can't decide whether a human can live or die unless we are in a situation of being attacked. But in this case where we have the person in custody we cannot go against his civil rights due to it being unconstitutional

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1/10/2012
Montgomery TX

Justin F
Metzger/Montgomery High School
I believe the death penalty is unconstitutional because some of the convicted offenders put on death sentence may not be the person who did it so they may be on death sentence even though they're innocent so if they put to death the person who was actually innnocent thats a lost loved one who didnt diserve to be put to death. So i believe like some countries not have the death penalty

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1/6/2012
Montgomery/Tx

Ely R.
Metzger/Montgomery High School
The death penalty is unconstitutional. No one should have the right to end someone’s life, because 2 wrongs don’t make a right. God was the one who gave us our life and only He can take it away! In the Old Testament it says "an eye for an eye" but Jesus is against that and we as Christians should follow what is in the New Testament. God in the 5th commandment says we shall not kill (Ex. 21:3). People have been put on death row and later been found innocent. You can’t bring someone back to life when that happens. A form of hatred is taking someone’s life away. Never return hate for hate because it is overcome by hate. By putting an innocent person to death gives a reason to put an end to capital punishment because life is sacred and only God can take it away!

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1/5/2012
Montgomery, Tx.

Davey C.
Metzger/ Montgomery High School
I believe the death penalty is constitutional, because the people that get the death penalty got it for a reason. They committed a crime that was cruel, and I believe they deserve what is coming to them. The constitution states there will be execution. I think we should follow the constitution and execute those that commit crimes eligible for the death penalty. The people that committed the crime are lucky, because they get an almost painless injection. Their victims didn't have that. Without the death penalty I can see a lot of problems, because its not fair that some innocent person died in vain and the criminal just rotts in jail. The death penalty needs to always be around, and should always be around. Without it their will be only little justice. The death penalty is constitutional, because its a amazing punishment for those that are cold and heartless.

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1/5/2012
Montgomery, Tx

J. Gibson
Metzger
I think that executing a prisoner isn't unconstitutional. They obviously committed a crime. If they didn't care about another person keep their life why should the government let them live and keep going with an unlawful act. If it's proven that you committed the crime and are sentenced to death row or whatnot, its deserved. I do think that some states go a bit too far with sentencing people to prison or death row. Really it depends on the crime, but if the person is 100% guilty then i think its fair.

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1/5/2012
Montgomery High School

Ryan Beatty
Metzger
I do not believe the death penalty is unconstitutional because the criminals are on deathrow for a reson/crime they committed. You should not be able to take ones life and be able to keep your own. Therefore I believe the death penalty is completley fair/legal and should be inforced nation wide.

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1/5/2012
Montgomery,Tx

David Ward
metzger
The death penalty is not unconstitutional. People say it is cruel and unusual punishment but its not. The prisoners are on deathrow for a reason. They commited cruel and unusual punishment to someone else so whats wrong with giving it back to them. Execution was put in the constitution for a reason and there will always be people to execute. People are just gonna have to learn to live with it.

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12/21/2011
Montgomery/Texas

Tia Clark
Metzger/ Montgomery High School
I believe that the death penalty is constitutional. The 5th amendment states that “nor [shall any person] be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”. Once a prisoner has had a trial and been found guilty, the court has a constitutional right to use the death penalty. I believe that the punishment should equal the crime. Therefore, if you execute a murderer, it is not cruel and unusual punishment. Also, the Supreme Court ruled that there has to be certain sentencing guidelines and other restrictions in order to execute a prisoner.

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12/10/2011
Montgomery/Texas

Danielle
Metzger/Montgomery High school
I believe it is unconstitutional. No state should be allowed to carry out the death penalty. I do however agree that murders should be punished by having their freedom taken away, but that does not mean we take away their life. They should be put in jail like all the other criminals. In the Declaration Of Independence it clearly says “That they are endowed by their Creator With certain unalienable Rights, Those among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". These are rights that shouldn’t be taken away by anyone other than our creator. When we kill another human being how does that not make us a murderer as well? We could easily put them in jail for a lifetime and get them help to become a better person but instead we take their life away without even thinking twice about it. Even though it is a long process criminals have to go through to receive the death penalty, they are sometimes proven to be innocent after they have already been tried guilty. Because of this long process it can sometimes be cheaper to keep them locked up behind bars. California for example paid $114 million per year in tax dollars to keep prisoners locked up and $250 million for each execution. People also need to think about the murder's families who are left behind. They lost their loved one and are suffering way more than the actual murderer. In conclusion I do not think there should be a death penalty, it is morally wrong, takes away our God given rights, costs too much, and is unfair to the criminals family.

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12/10/2011
Montgomery, Texas

J. Molina
Montgomery High School (Metzger)
I think that executing inmates is not unconstitutional. If anyone believes that the death penalty is 'a cruel and unusual' act let that person ask themselves: 'Didn't the person on death row commit a cruel and unsual crime against someone?' Clearly the criminal did not care about another person's life so why should the law allow the criminal to keep his or hers? Especially if the killer feels absolutely no remorse towards the crime he or she commited. Dying for a death one (purposely) caused does not violate the 8th amendment. What was cruel and unusual is what they did.

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12/7/2011
Montgomery, Texas

Chelsey Williams
Metzger/Montgomery High School
The death penalty is unconstitutional, even though someone commits murder, I don't think it is fair whatsoever to kill that person. How would you feel if your family member, mother, father, sister, brother, or anyone close to you commited a murder, brutal or not.. you personally would NOT want them to be sitting on death row, for God knows how long anticipating their own death, knowing it is coming for them. How do you think their friends/family feel? No one deserves to die but they do deserve punishment. Sitting in a prison for the rest of their life is enough punishment for someone. I consider it cruel and unusual punishment. It is not fair that one person can commit murder, get life in prison. Another person, life with parol. And another is sentenced to death row. They all three commited murder, how is it fair to that person or the family of the person sentenced to death row, it's not. No one deserves to die of their wrong doing. So yes, the death penalty is unconstitutional.

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12/7/2011
Montgomery/Texas

lacey
Metzger/Montgomery High School
I think that the death penalty is constitutional. If you are proven guilty 100% for a serious crime, then there is no reason you shouldn't be punished. If they murdered someone then they don't care about taking a life of another person then why would it matter to them if you took there life. There should be restrictions, depending on your crime, if you rob a store you shouldn't receive the same punishment for someone who killed someone

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12/6/2011
Montgomery, Texas

Railey R.
Metzger/Montgomery High School
The death penalty is a fair punishment for people who commit major crimes that harm others. There should be some restrictions on capital punishment based on the crimes committed. Punishment will alter, so death penalty isn't for every crime. Murder is a perfect example of when the death penalty should be used. I believe that if you take someone else's life then yours should also be taken from you. The death penalty isn't harming or torturing anyone. It shows others that there is punishment for extreme actions that hurt others. The practice does not violate cruel or unusual punishment because the convict brought it upon himself. I agree with the fact that states should have the right to vote on if they want to practice the death penalty or not. The death penalty is not unconstitutional.

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12/5/2011
Montgomery, Texas

Amy Anderson
Metzger/Montgomery High School
I believe the death penalty to be constitutional. The death penalty should be accompanied by restrictions on who is allowed to be sentenced to death. Only the most serious crimes, like murder, should have death as their punishment. The death penalty is not cruel and unusual punishment because there is no torture before being put to death and if you are on death row then you would have had to commit a serious or gruesome crime to be convicted of such a harsh punishment. Harsh punishments like the death penalty send a message to people saying that if you commit such crimes then you will die for your wrong doings and will not be able to get away with breaking the law and hurting others.

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11/28/2011
Montgomery/Texas

Kaitlyn B
Metzger/ Montgomery High school
In the case of death penalty yes, I do think it is constitutional. I mean if you are proven guilty in the court of law then yeah, you do deserve to be punished. Yes, the punishment does vary from person to person, but did that person that they killed truly deserve to be taken away from their family prematurely like that? Even if you put the killer in prison for the rest of his/her life isn't that just as much cruel and unusal punishment as actually killing them? I mean even if in prison the person comes to self realization the chances of them getting out of prison are slim. Then, if that doesn't happen they will eventually go insane from solitary confinement. Imgaine being stuck in the same place for the rest of your life, not that great. Every person has a different opinion on the death penalty so, it would be a good idea to have to states open to practice their opinion. Not everyone is going to be happy with others opinions but, is there ever making everyone happy at once?

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11/18/2011
Rudyard, MT

Shelby L.
Mrs. Campbell
Each State should have their own decision on whether or not they will use the death penalty. If the State decides to keep the death penalty they have some big decisions to make. How do you choose who receives the death penalty? Do only the criminals that are absolutely without a doubt guilty get it and the criminals that we aren’t 100% sure on get to live? They may have committed the exact same crime but because one was slightly less evidence they live and the other dies. If the State decides to go that route then do the put the criminal who lived in jail? If so how long? There are so many questionable situations with the death penalty that I think it would be unconstitutional to pick and choose who dies and who doesn’t. Yes, they may deserve it for what they have done, but what if they didn’t do it and they are still killed then what? Does that have to happen and be proved before the death penalty is unconstitutional?

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11/17/2011
San Antonio, TX

Spencer
Earl Warren High
I believe that the death penalty is perfectly acceptable as long as the possibility that the defendent killed the victim is 100% beyond a shadow of a doubt. If there's reasonable belief that (s)he is innocent, then hold back on the death penalty.

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11/4/2011
Madison/NE

Brent
Mrs. Gentile/LHNE
I believe the death penalty is constitutional as long as we can afford it. It makes sense that if someone commits a crime that is worthy of capital punishment, then they deserve exactly that.

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11/4/2011
Columbus, NE

zach
Mrs. Gentile
I believe that it is completly constitutianal. If someone murders someone and their is sufficiant evidence that they are the ones who commited the crime they deserve to pay the price for what they have did. That is my opinion.

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11/4/2011
Irving/Texas

Aaron
Bradley/Nimitz
Although the death penalty is often over-used in some states, I believe it is constitutional and should remain the answer for criminals who don't deserve anymore chances. Murderers should know that as soon as they killed, it became an eye for an eye situation. No one like that deserves another chance, all they do is take up another cell in the prison for the rest of their lives, it puts them out of their misery.

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11/4/2011
Norfolk NE

Trenton
Mrs. Gentile/Lutheran High
I believe the death penalty is constitutional because it is not cruel and unusual punishment. Every state can carry it out on their own accord. If there would be a limit on it, it would be decided on how severe the crime. If you killed someone then you should be put to death, or if you steal from a bank, you deserve life in prison.

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11/4/2011
Norfolk, NE

Austin
Mrs. Gentile/Lutheran High
I think the death penalty is constitutional. I think that the states should be permitted to carry out the death penalty. I think that the only restriction on this is that the criminal should be 100 percent guilty of the crime because i think that if he didnt even do the crime or if their isnt sufficient evidence then he should not be killed for something we dont even know that he did.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk NE

Joshua
Lutheran High Northeast
The death penalty is constitutional. Any punishment is constitutional as long as it is not both cruel and unusual as stated in the constitution. This means you could have a very cruel punishment if it's not unusual or an unusual punishment if its not cruel. The way its stated in the constitution allows punishments to be one or the other.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk, NE

Nicholas
Mrs. Gentile
I believe that the death penalty is constitutional. I think that if a person chooses to take the life of another person in their own hands, they give their life up to the authorities to deal with how they think is right and it would only make sense for a person to be sentenced to death for taking the life of another. As long as capital punishment is carried out through such means as lethal injection, I don't think it can be considered to be cruel or unusual punishment, so I support it.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Faith
Mrs. Gentile/ Lutheran High Northeast
I believe that the death penalty should continue to be legal. Life is valuable. If you take someone's life away, you should be held completely responsible for it. I do not believe that time in jail is a high enough consequence for murder. Going to jail may not really threaten or scare people. I do believe that before a person is completely convicted of murder, their case should be thoroughly examined to make sure they really are guilty.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Faith
Mrs. Gentile/ Lutheran High Northeast
I believe that the death penalty should continue to be legal. Life is valuable. If you take someone's life away, you should be held completely responsible for it. I do not believe that time in jail is a high enough consequence for murder. Going to jail may not really threaten or scare people. I do believe that before a person is completely convicted of murder, their case should be thoroughly examined to make sure they really are guilty.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/NE

Liz
Mrs. Gentile/LHNE
I have to say that i agree that the death penalty is constitutional. The punishment should fit the crime. It has been that way since the Hamarrabi code "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth", how else would you punish those who have commited murder? You really think there is a better way?

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Katie
Mrs.Gentile/LHNE
I think the death penalty is constitutional. I feel people need BIG consequences for BIG crimes. Crimes like murder for example. I think punishments need to fit the crime. You kill some one then you also should be put to death. If we don't have the death penalty then I worry our overcrowded jails will become more overcrowded.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk, Nebraska

Shelby
Mrs. Gentile
I believe that the death penalty is constitutional without any question. I do not believe that this applies to the eighth amendment concerning cruel and unusual punishment. I f someone commits a murder there so be no limitations on how that murderer is killed. They get what they deserve!

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/NE

Jordan
Mrs. Gentile/ LHNE
My opinion is that it is constitutional. It's not breaking any rules of the constitution, so therefore, as long as the punishment fits the crime, it's fine. If someone murders someone, they should have their life taken away also.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk,Nebraska

Rachel
Mrs. Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
The death penalty is constitutional in my opinion. Why I say this is because we need something that is worse than the just sitting in jail for 30 years of your life. If they killed someone they should have to die for there crime. If someone takes a life there life should be taken for that crime.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk, Nebraska

Taylor
Mrs. Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
I believe that the death penalty is constitutional. My reasoning for this would be that they should get what they deserve. By taking someone else's life you should also have yours taken away. They made the choice to kill that person and so they are completely responsible for the crime. And lastly there are many cruel and unusual punishments that I can think of that are way worse than lethal injection, such as getting a nice bath in sulfuric acid.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk, Nebraska

Andrea
Mrs. Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
I think the death penalty should continue to be legal because if someone gets life in prison for murdering a person, someone who murders ten people should get something worse. I do however think that certain precautions should be taken to make sure that the people are not actually innocent. They should be proven guilty.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk, NE

Katrina
Mrs.Gentile/LHNE
I think the death penalty is constitutional. If you are convicted of a purposeful murder, you should be punished. They are getting what they deserve. It doesn't go against cruel or unusual punishmenet if you aren't torturing them. They're just getting what they deserve, I guess.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Kendra
Mrs. Gentile/LHNE
I don't think there is anything wrong with the death penalty. if we abolished it i think it would lead to increased crime becasue people would not be as "scared" of the consequences of their actions.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Beth
Mrs. Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
I don't think there is anything wrong with the death pentalty. If someone kills another person, they should get a stronger punishment than the man who holds up a convenience store. We aren't killing them in cruel or inhumane ways, which is forbidden in the Constitution.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk, Nebraska

Jordan
Mrs. Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
I think that the death penalty is completely constitutional. If you are responsible for killing the life of someone else (not for self defense purposes) your crime should be justified. Most people would take life in prison over the death penalty any day. The death penalty is way more of a punshment and it doesn't go against cruel or unusual punishment in any way.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/Ne

Zach
Mrs. Gentile
I believe that capital punishment is ok. If someone takes the life of another human being, then the governement should be able to take their life. It is not a cruel thing. In most cases the convicted person takes the life of another in a much harsher way of means.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk, Nebraska

Kyle
Mrs Gentile
I think that the death penalty is Constitutional because the people that did such hanus crimes should deserve the punishment that they deserve. It is not something that should be exaggerated but to certain extents it is. The States should be allowed to as long as they got their permit to do it approved by the National Government. It would not be considered to be a cruel and unusual punishment in my mind

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/NE

Natalie
Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
I think that the death penalty is constitutional as long as it is done in a humane way. There crime should be justified, but I dont think there is a need to toruture them.

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11/3/2011
norfolk/ne

jacob
gentile/lutheran northeast
i think it is totally constitutional, if you take away someones right to life, then justly your right to life should be taken. it is not a cruel punishment if it is a quick death such as the electric chair, lethal injection, or even a firing line. a firing line would be way cheaper.

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11/3/2011
Norfok/Ne

LaDarius
Mrs. Gentile
Yes it is a good deal

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11/3/2011
Norfolk, NE

Shelby
Mrs. Gentile
Although I don't approve of taking a human life, I find the death penalty to be constitutional for a variety of reasons. The first one being that this law is under the government, not God. We derive it from the Ten Commandments: Thou shalt not murder; to be specific. Be sure to note that this command is not intended for our generation. Allowing persons to remain in prison is both costly, and it presents the possibility of relasing them back into society where they could create further issues. No more turn the other cheek, it's time to take care of the issue.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Taylor P
Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
I think the death penalty is unconstitional as far as actually taking someone's life goes by just looking at the words in the constitution. However they gave up that right when they decided to kill someone else, making it constitutional.

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11/3/2011
Norolk/Nebraska

Catrina
Mrs. Gentile/ Lutheran High Northeast
I don't believe it is clarified very well whether or not the death penalty is unconstitutional or not. I believe that since there is not a clarification blatently proving the unconstitutionality of the death penalty gives way to the answer that the death penalty is constitutional. I think that any way the death penalty is carried out should be legal too because if it was fast and painless a murderer would pick that instead of life in prison, makes it less of a punishment, and more of a desirable outcome to taking a life.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk Nebraska

Hannah
Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
I think that the death penalty is consittutional and that states should be able to carry it out. If someone kills another person then the punishment for that should be their life.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Whitney
Mrs. Gentile
I think that the death penalty is constitutional because people need to have serious consequences for the crime that they commit. If someone takes another person's life, then that crime should be justified. But I also think it should be done in a humane way (which it is), so I don't think there is anything wrong with keeping the death penalty for capital punishment.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk, Nebraska

Kelsey
Mrs. Gentile/ Lutheran High Northeast
I think that the death penalty is constitutional and should be legal. States should carry out the death penalty becasue of equal justice, if someone kills a person, they deserve to have the same done to them. It does not violate against cruel or unusual punishment because again they are getting exactly what they deserve, for killing another person.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Zach
Mrs. Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
In my opinion, the death penalty is 100% constitutional. It’s the most proper way to punish someone who has taken the life of another human being. People fear death. We always have and always will. That makes the death penalty such a punishment. If I killed someone, I would rather take life in prison with free food and bed than be executed. To the people who think that the death penalty violates the 8th amendment, it doesn’t. Cruel and unusual punishment would entitle being tortured for stealing a cookie, or being burned at the stake for killing someone. We simply give them anesthetics then the shot. To me, that’s the most humane way possible.

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11/3/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Daniel
Mrs. Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
The death penalty is definitley constiutional. People's arguement is often that the death penalty should not be done because it violates the eighth amendment. What they don't seem to understand is that cruel and unusual punishment is defined as a punishment not befitting of the crime committed. Usually if a person is put on death row, the crime committed was the killing of many people in very violent ways. When they are executed, they are killed in one of the least painful ways possible. They are actually asleep from the anesthetics when the other drugs are administered. Exactly how can that be considered cruel punishment?

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11/2/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Ross
Mrs. Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
To me i think that it is a very improtant punishment to have for criminals that want to be in charge of taking other lives. If a human being decides that they can take the life of another person then the government has the power to take their life when the government get's it's power from the people.

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11/2/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Hayley
Mrs.Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
In my eyes the death penalty is constitutional. Some people ask what if the person was innocent and ended up getting the death penalty? Well I think that if you have enough evidence and proof that the person is guilty then that shouldn't be a problem. If a person killed another human being then they should have it done to them, proving this isn't unusual punishment.

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11/2/2011
Nebraska

Annemarie
Mrs. Gentile
I think that it is constitutional and that all states should be able to carry it out and should carry it out. Restrictions should be that they have to be 100% sure that the person is guilty of the crime. I think that if a crime is serious enough, that life in prison isn't enough. They get free food and housing guaranteed for the rest of their life?! Awesome! I mean obviously jail life isn't exactly the grandest but still...If you feel the need to take the life of a human being away than we feel the need to takes yours away as well.

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11/2/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Andrew
Mrs. Gentile/Lutheran High Northeast
The death penalty is definitely constitutional. It is not cruel or unusual, is it wrong to kill someone in self defence? Most people would say no. So what would be wrong after killing them after the fact. Also, I think they should be killed in the way they killed their victims. It seems only fair to me.

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11/2/2011
Norfolk/Nebraska

Tyler
Mrs Gentile/ Lutheran High Northeast
There has to be consequences for the things you do. How would it not be constitutional? Its not unusual punishment. By them taking another person's life I think its equal by taking their life away. How would you like for someone to kill your mother in a terrible horrific way? Would you find it fair for them to just stay in jail, be fed and have a place to sleep? I would think not. But at the same time there should be enough evidence provided for guilty without a doubt before preceding with the death penalty.

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11/1/2011
rudyard mt

kieffer
northstar
i think that the death penalty is consitutional because why should a person that has killed some one not have the right to die them selvs i think as long as there is substanial evidence against the suspect in the murder and it was brutial then they dont have a right to no death penalty it should be in all states

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11/1/2011
Rudyard, MT

Marielle
Mrs. Campbell/North Star
The death penalty is constitutional. If you think about it how many dead people do you know who has committed the same crime twice? None. For example, Jeffrey Dahmer killed and ate his victims. He's the type of people that need to be sentenced. It's an eye for eye situation, if you kill someone you should deserve it back. It's not "cruel and unusual punishment" it's justice. I don't want a mass murderer sitting in jail getting fed and clothed, he should be sitting in death row. There's nothing wrong with the death penalty. Texas is just utilizing it more than other states. More governments should use it like Texas does. The death penalty should stay how it stands and not be changed.

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11/1/2011
Rudyard, Montana

Karston
Mrs. Campbell North Star High School
The death penalty is unconstitutional because the 8th amendment is supposed to protect us form "cruel and unusual punishment," but the death penalty is still necessary in many different occasions. If a person takes the life of many different people and does so much wrong in their life that they need the capital punishment, then yes I do believe that they should recieve the death penalty. The death penalty has such a fine line though because if you give the death penalty to someone that doesn't really deserve than you obviously can't take it back. For instance, if a person was falsely accused of a crime and they recieve the death penalty then that person is dying for no reason at all. Also, once they found out that that person was innocent then it would already be to late.

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11/1/2011
Watertown/MA

William Pennington
Mr. Rimas/Watertown High School
The death penalty is unconstitutional. The eighth amendment says that no "cruel and unusual punishments inflicted". Taking away the life of someone is clearly cruel therefor the death penalty is unconstitutional. Although what the person did was very wrong it does not give justice to anyone and sends the wrong message about the United States and our Justice Department.

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10/31/2011
Rudyard/MT

Katelyn
Mrs. Campbell/Northstar
I do believe in capital punishment, because it seems to be the only way to make people pay for cuel and unusual crimes they commit. We are spending way too much money housing major criminals in the prison system who should not get to breath the same air as we do. I believe it is constitutional and I also believe in an eye for an eye. It does not seem cruel to follow through with the death penalty. It seems more cruel to put the victom's family through the agony of knowing that their loved one's killer is still out there.

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10/31/2011
Bedford/Texas

Lindsey
Bradley/Nimitz High School
I think that the death penalty is constitutional, people who are willing to do such a hateful crime should be willing to deal with the punishment that comes along with it. When they commit murder you should do to them what they did. If you give them the death penalty they can not make that same mistake that put them in that place again.

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10/31/2011
Rudyard/MT

Shelbo
Mrs. Campbell/North Star
The death penalty is completely constitutional. A dead man never commits a crime twice. This is fair due to the fact that it is far more cruel to lock someone up their whole life. Not only this, but it is far too expensive to sit and feed and clothe inmates throughout there whole life. I dont know why this is even an argument though. There are hardly any death penalties accept for in Texas.

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10/28/2011
Watertown MA

Tifani
Rimas Watertown High School
I do not think the death penalty is unconstitutional. I think that if a jury finds it a reasonable punishment for someone then that's what they should get. A person getting the death penalty has committed very serious crimes. I think that putting someone in a cage for the rest of their life would be a worse punishment but I don't think it is unconstitutional.

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10/28/2011
ma

Derek Wright
Rimas
The death penalty is constitutional because the constitution only protects against cruel and unusual punishment and the death penalty is a fair and just punishment.

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10/19/2011
Sidney/Montana

Gene
Mr. Faulhaber/SHS
In my opinion, I think the death penatly is unconstitutional. Its kind of sick to kill someone and put on a show with it. I mean your better off locking the person up in a small cell like a dog. I dont think putting someone in jail is very constitutional either, but i wont go there. The death penatly has got to be against the 8th amendment.

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10/19/2011
Sidney/Montana

Gene
Mr. Faulhaber/SHS
In my opinion, I think the death penatly is unconstitutional. Its kind of sick to kill someone and put on a show with it. I mean your better off locking the person up in a small cell like a dog. I dont think putting someone in jail is very constitutional either, but i wont go there. The death penatly has got to be against the 8th amendment.

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10/19/2011
Sidney/Montana

Deserae
Faulhaber
I personally I think it is against the Eighth Amendment, which states no cruel and unusual punishment should be done the person found guilty. I think it should be changed a little bit to insure we execute the true killers. I understand if a person gets the death penalty if he or she has comitted the act of killing over and over again and it's intentional. I think if the defendant is guilty they should go over the evidance to make sure they are the guilty suspect of the crime. If it is obviouse that the defeandent is the killer like the Jeffrey Dahmer case were he was caught eating one of his victims. If that is the case they deserve the death penalty. If we can change this to help the people who are wrongly comitted to the death penalty get to live. I think it's worse if an innocent dies when the true killer is still walking around like nothing happened.

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10/19/2011
Sidney MT

Dan
Mr. Faulhaber
Well, lets see.. if you have the ability to kill someone, then the state has the ability to kill you. That doesn't just go for the intentional murder, but for drunk driving as well. If you fall asleep at the wheel then you should be charged with man slaughter and put down. Yes i just said "put down."

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10/19/2011
Sidney, Montana

Candace
Ms. Fontana
I think the death penalty is constitutional in certain situations. Like if you committ a serious crime like murdering someone or especially murdering multiple people then they should get the death penalty. But if someone committs a crime like getting into a car accident where someone got seriously injured or killed but the driver didnt mean for the accident to happen then i don't think they should get the death penalty.

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10/18/2011
Charlottesville, VA

Dakotah
Bailey/ Monticello High
I think the death penalty is constitutional. I believe it's only fair when there is plenty of proof and there is about zero chance that you're wrong.The Death Penalty is only constitutional is the way they are killed is humane. Hanging, the electric chair, are some of the ways that are monstrous. Even though I may agree that they deserve it, killing someone that cruelly, makes us no better than the murderer themselves.

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10/8/2011
Irving/Texas

Jerin
Bradly/Nimitz
I think the death penalty is constitutional. Death penalties existed in the world for centuries and they are still being carried out today in many countries. Sentencing someone to death is not unconstitutional as long as enough proof is given about the seriousness of the crime because some crimes do earn the level of using capital punishment. States in the US are allowed to use death penalties if it is necessary. Even though death penalty is constitutional, the methods used to implement them are rather harsh and unconstitutional. Injecting lethal injections, dragging criminals along the roads using cars and even death by hanging are completely unconstitutional. The best and the only way is to shoot them so that when they die, they would not die a slow and painful death given the fact that they are already hurting by the passing of the death sentence on them. In this way, there is no question or debate about capital punishment being constitutional or not/

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10/7/2011
Sidney, MT

Jory
Faulhaber
I think the death penalty is constitutional. If people have enough evidence that the murderer did so they should be killed. To save money, instead of doing lethal injections they should be shot.

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10/7/2011
sidney mt

Nick
Mr.Faulhaber
I think the death penalty is constitutional. If someone gets murdered it should be logical that the person who killed him also dies. Stop the lethal injections and just start hanging them or shooting them. It would save us money. It will also lower the population in the prisons. The killer has violated the law and he shouldn't have rights.

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10/7/2011
Sidney, Montana

Ande
Miss Fontana
I think the death penalty is unconsititutional. The death penalty violates the eighth amendment of cruel and unusual punishment. It costs more of taxpayers money to kill someone then to keep them in prison for the rest of their life. I also think life in prison is a worse and a more effective punishment. There is also a possibility of innocent people getting put to death.

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10/7/2011
Sidney Mt

Joe B.
Fontana/Sidney High
The death penalty is constitutional but only if there is proficient evidence that the convicted has actually committed the crime. I think that if there is not enough evidence that the convicted should just have to sit on death row, I pretty much agree with how the system works now. The only thing that is scetchy is all the misconvictions.

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10/7/2011
Sidney, Montana

Sami
Miss Fontana
The death penalty is unconstitutional because the peoples lives that have been taken have already died, and since the goverment clearly stated that they wanted deaths to stop. For example when the drinking age was at 18, the government changed the laws. Why would you want to kill a murderer when you can simply keep them alive and they torture themselves everyday for what they had done. In the end that person makes their choice of either killing themselves or trying to change their life around, knowing what they did was wrong. And whether or not the victims family forgives the killer or not, he still made that step to go out of their comfort zone.

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10/7/2011
Sidney MT

Taylor
Mr. Faulhaber
I believe the death penalty is constitutional. If someone murders another human being, I think that person should recieve the dealth penalty. People would argue that it's not our decision to take someones life. If that is true, then who gave the murderer the right to take someones life. Why should the murderer have the right to keep their life when he took the life of another.

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10/7/2011
Sidney/ MT

Nicole R.
Faulharber/Sidney High School
No, we do not have the right to kill someone. People have the right to live.

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10/7/2011
Sidney, Montana

Jaycee
Mr.Faulhaber
I think that the death penaly is unconsitutional. I think that the death penalty should pertain to all crimes, but the ones that either take lives away or put them in serious danger. If people are going to take other lives away and put them into serious danger, then they should get the death penalty. For example: If a person is convicted of a murder charge more than one time, then they should get the penalty.They shouldn't get the oppportunity to live anymore if all they do is cause problems and take away innocent people's lives. Some states do have the death penatly law in use and others don't. I think that all states should use the law. I don't think that the law is agiasnt cruel or unusual punishment. I think the law is needed for many people. If people are going to kill other people, their lives should be taken too.

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10/7/2011
sidney montana

Steffan
miss fontana
For someone to kill someone else, they obviously are not in their right mind. do we kill mentally handicapped people for not being sane? no, we spend time and money helping them, and thats how it should be with murderers.

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10/7/2011
Sidney MT

Katey
Ms. Fontana
I don't think that the death penalty is unconstitutional at all. If you commit a crime like robbing a convienence store you shouldn't be charged with it unless you end up shooting someone. If you commit a serious crime like murder or rape then I think you should get this punishment. You've taken something from those people that they will never get back and to me that's wrong. You should have to go through the same pain and pay for what you did.

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10/4/2011
Irving, Texas

Karla R
Ms. Bradley/NImitz
I don't think capital punishment is unconstitutional as a form of punishment. Obviously, if a person robs a bank and holds bystanders hostage, he should not be charged with the death penalty, but if said person shoots and kills one of the hostages, then I think he should be held responsible for taking another person's life, and should rightfully be punished via the death penalty. But on the other hand, if it was an accidental shooting, then the views and opinions will vary. Now, if a criminal kills someone but isn't rightfully punished, then others would start to think that they can get away with going through with murders and that isn't the right idea the government, jury or judges, want to give to the future criminals. Restrictions wise, I think that mentally disabled people who committed a crime without any intent should not be punished because they basically don't know what they are doing, or if what they are doing is even right or wrong. Then there's the whole other idea about whether the one who committed the crime had any real intent behind his actions or there is something wrong with their minds, and they can justly claim they have mental problems. Another thing to take into account is the age. If the prisoner is underage, do they merit the capital punishment? Or should they live their whole lives in prison as a form of punishment to see the wrongdoings? Either way, if they broke a law, they have to be punished by the law for their wrongdoings.

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10/4/2011
Irving/Texas

Jennifer Nguyen
Bradley/Nimitz
The death penalty is constitutional. The process doesn't drag out too long. One dies within seconds. The states should have the right to whether or not a death penalty should be carried out.There's a quote somewhere that goes something like this: Why do we kill people for killing people to show that killing is wrong? What happens if it turns out that they were innocent, but it was too late because they were already killed? Even though the death penalty is constitutional, I don't agree with it. Why not just let them live out life sentences?

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10/3/2011
Irving/ TX

Joshua P
Mrs. Bradley
In my opinion the death penalty now is completely constitutional because of the use of lethal injections which protects the rights of the 8th amendment. A state should have it's own choice over the death penalty and can decide what to do with the inmate, however, if someone is concretely convicted of killing another civilian out of their own pure anger and hatred they should not be aloud the freedoms the rest of us receive. Personally if we wanted to stop murderers we would use the exact same method of execution they used to murder their victim. It would be the literal term of "treat others how you want to be treated." then they might actually think twice about their actions.

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10/3/2011
Irving/TX

Sara
Bradley/Nimitz
Yes, I do think in ways it is Constitutional. To me if you purposely kill somebody then you get what you deserve. Which should be the death penalty or life in prison. Killing someone for no reason or just for revenge to me is unconstitutional. There are certain cases that are an exception. For example, if it is self defense and you accidentally kill the person then you shouldn't be charged for trying to help yourself. Other than that I think it is a way of punishment that is accepted.

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10/2/2011
Irving/Texas

Aaron
Ms. Bradley/Nimitz
I believe that the death penalty is constitutional, and as long as the prisoner is rightfully accused guilty of murder, they should have every right to sentence them to death. Someone who is able to take another life shouldn't be aloud to just wait out a sentence, they should feel the same pain as they caused the victim. Murder is an unforgivable crime, and the only way to pay for what you did is getting the death penalty. It should be up to the state whether it carries it out or not, and if theyw ant to, I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to.

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10/2/2011
Irving/TX

Nam
Ms.Bradley/Nimitz
There is nothing cruel about the death penalty. Once you have taken someone life you surrender your own. Does the murder think about what he/she is doing before he/she is do it? Do he/she think what what he/she doing is cruel? Usually people that get the death penalty are the lowest of the scums that walk this Earth . They do things that benefit them, but destroy the life's of others. To rid these types of people is better than having them in prison hurting other inmates, and have the government feeding them with the people's taxes. I don't think this violates any sort of law at all. Because of the crimes they done themselves they have already broken the law for harming others thus deserve the punishment of is fullest potential.

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10/1/2011
Irving/TX

Mariah B.
Bradley/Nimitz
The death penalty isn't unconstitutional, because it is not cruel and unusual punishment. Taking into consideration that the death penalty doesn't cause you to suffer for a ridiculously long amount of time while you are being executed, it is not cruel and unusual. A malicious murderer shouldn't get a second chance. The death penalty should not be given flippantly by any means, however, if there is a case where the murderer was overtly cruel, we as a people should not want those people around affecting the society anymore. A heinous crime should be evaluated thoroughly, over and over, until it is unanimously decided that the criminal gets the death penalty.

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9/30/2011
Irving/Tx

India B.
Bradley/Nimitz
The death penalty is definitely constitutional, within reason. By taking someone else's life, you forfeit your own. An eye for an eye isn't always the right way to look at things, but in this case it is. If someone has stamped out the light of another human being, that murderer's light isn't one we want shining on us. However, because taking a life is such a serious matter, capital punishment shouldn't be doled out willy-nilly. The facts should be check and rechecked, then given to someone else to check, then check again before having ten other people check them. Taking a life in cold blood is a deplorable act, for which the only punishment fitting is death.

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9/30/2011
Irving, TX

Joel S.
Bradley/Nimitz
The eighth amendment of the Constitution states that as Americans, we have the right to not undergo “cruel or unusual punishment.” So is the death penalty cruel or unusual? Well, the government is supposed to protect the freedom and property of its citizens, and a dangerous criminal might harm that. So what exactly is right? As humans, we all make mistakes, but some of us intentionally harm others, even murdering them. The easy is answer is straightforward, but can seem a little harsh: serial killers, mass rapists-- these people are dangerous and harmful to society. They can escape prions, shorten their life sentences, or simply waste taxpayer money by rotting in a cell for 70 years. The death penalty, administered humanely through lethal injection, seems liek the only valid option.

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9/30/2011
Irving/TX

Jacob H.
Bradley/Nimitz
To answer the original question, yes, the death penalty is constitutional because it is not “unusual” for someone to want revenge or justice for what has been done. When someone is murdered, their families deserve closure and justice. The death penalty is a way to receive said rights. If the death penalty were not in place, our jails would be even more clogged than they already are. In my opinion, the death penalty is constitutional because of the eighth amendment, instead of the opposite, because, as stated, it is not “unusual” for a family or loved one to want to exact revenge on a murderer.

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9/30/2011
Irving, TX

Cynthia G
Bradley/Nimitz
I do believe that the death penalty is constitutional and acceptable to a certain extent. I do not think that it should be used as electrocuting people or hanging them, but something simpler and quicker. Even though the person on death penalty will experience a quick and a short painful death and don't really suffer, they still loose their life. Any state should be allowed to carry out the death penalty if they want to, but each state should have the same rules and regulations to their death penalties. Every following state should have same priorities to follow in order to sentence someone to death row and should all have the same method of death. Prisoners are prisoners for a reason and they should be put to suffer in prisons but sometimes the best is to put someone to the death row.

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9/29/2011
Irving/TX

Michael P.
Bradley/Nimitz
Death is the one subject that can never become easy to talk about. Sentencing death because of a crime has been used since the mid evil days. Weather it is right or not, is the biggest question that has pondered us as humans for the past couple century's as the US has become a nation. The first question you as an individual has to answer, is do you feel comfortable with being responsible for someones death? The second question is do you think people who commit murders deserve to be killed? These are conflicting questions that more often than not, have different answers but involve each other when dealing with a matter like this. In my opinion, I believe that any human who kills another human being is at some degree, insane. In that case I believe that we as a society must deal with these people appropriately. But as a human being, I cannot pass judgment on this matter because if I say I believe in the death penalty, I fall into the same pool of people who commit murder in my opinion. Are we as humanity so savage? Answer this, can a human decide weather or not another human should die based on the things they have done? And if so, doesn't that make you just as savage as them?

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9/29/2011
Irving?Tx

Azaria
Bradley/Nimitz
There are people out in the world who rape and murder others. Some of these people get sentenced to jail, but others are able to slip through the fingers of Justice. Should we really allow those that have been caught to be released in a couple of years after they are sent to jail? Do we really want people like that out on the streets with us? And is letting them waste their lives away in jail, when there is a risk that they may get out, really better than giving them the death sentence? If the are sentenced to jail for life, then isn't that the same thing as killing them? If those who deserve to die for their crimes are killed, then the state and national governments won't have to spend lots of money to feed, water, clothe, and take care of these murderers. The governments could spend the money they would have kept a murder alive to help those that are innocent and free. And isn't the eighth amendment talking about how we can not be tortured? Isn't living in prison for the rest of your life, with no hope of ever getting out because of the severity of your crimes, torture in itself? Death would seem like a quick and easy, and a somewhat painless experience over a life of imprisonment, wouldn't it?

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9/29/2011
Irving/TX

Jesse G
Bradley/ Nimitz
I believe the death penalty is completely constitutional. Yet, I do think states should have the power to choose whether or not their state should allow it. In almost every situation that the death penalty is put out as an option of punishment, the crime the felon committed was a violent act. The country was founded on the principles that everyone would be protected under the law. I think the victims of these crimes deserve to know that the person who committed the crime get every punishment possible under the law. I don't think the criminals should be held to a different standard; if someone tried to act as someone's maker, and they took or attempted to take a life of another their life should hang in the balance of a judge too.

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9/28/2011
Irving/Texas

Kirstin F
Bradley/Nimitz
I think the death penalty is constitutional and the state should be able to carry it out, The death penalty is usually used for those who have killed an innocent person and I believe that if you willing kill another person you should not be allowed to live either. You should get exactly what you gave right back kinda like karma. I think the only restriction should be on age. A person under the age of 18 who can not be tried as an adult should not be able to receive the death penalty because technically they are not of age and can not even give permission for themselves their parents are still liable for their actions. I do however fully support the death penalty because I feel it is fair to punish someone with the exact crime they have committed.

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9/28/2011
Irving/TX

Tambra B.
Bradley/Nimitz
As far as I’m aware, the Constitution protects against cruel and unusual punishment, and against the loss of life, liberty and property without the due process of law. Now, in my opinion, the death penalty does NOT constitute cruel or unusual punishment. It seems the most logical option for criminals proven guilty, by our judicial system, to be killed, rather than kept at the expense of tax payers. And, one could argue that, in some cases, the life time of regret in a prison is in fact a crueler, and more unusual punishment, due to its’ unprecedented inhibition of liberty, and the lifetime of the psychological pain of remorse or regret. To address the possible problems with the death penalty and due process of law, I would like to point out that the States are required to have sentencing guidelines, room for appeals, and other restrictions: that means that there is ample time for wrongly convicted victims of the system to appeal, and garner evidence in their favor. The severity of death would be a problem, but for the fact that courts can now use DNA evidence as a way to convict in many punishable-by-death offenses, and most of the cases where it came out that executed people were wrongly convicted involved DNA evidence coming into a much older case. Another commonly mentioned would-be problem is that of mentally challenged criminals. Many people seem to believe that because they do not understand the world, or right and wrong, or the consequences of their actions, that they should not be held accountable. I do not agree, on the grounds that a sociopath, a psychopath, may not know why right is right and wrong is wrong, and they may not understand the consequences of their actions, but I would not want to have to keep on of them- incurable, violent disease isn’t something tawpayers need to keep alive, to be strait forward.

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9/28/2011
Irving/TX

Rocio
Bradley/Nimitz
The death penalty seems like a reasonable punishment for those who have taken the lives of others. I don't understand why people want to hide and protect these killers by deeming the death penalty "unconstitutional." These killers have tortured and taken the lives of innocent people . Their victims had no choice but to suffer, their very lives were ripped away from them by these monsters. If found guilty, these criminals deserve to die, perhaps in worse ways, but for right now all we can do is rely on justice through the death penalties. If the criminal ends up being mentally hadicapped, then he/she should be sent to a very good mental hospital instead of being found guilty for a crime he/she doesn't understand anythng about.

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9/28/2011
Irving, Tx

Jose R.
Bradley/Nimitz
I believe that the death penalty shouldn't be used as a capital punishments for criminals. The death penalty is constitutional to some extent but its not really doing any punishment to the criminal. If you really think about it, doesn't the criminal only suffer for a short time. I think it would be better more of a punishment if the person was still alive but just had to live through the conditions of prison. Time is a factor that cant be change and is the worst friend for a prisoner. They will always be consent of what crime they committed and will have to face it every single day. By applying the death penalty, the criminals can see that as a way out of all the stress and frustration knowing that they will stay the rest of their life in prison. I think both the state and national government shouldn't be permitted to carry out death penalty.

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9/27/2011
Nimitz

Lauren
Bradley
I think the death penalty should be because the people that were murdered and raped deserve justice. The eighth amendment ““no cruel and unusual punishments,” but what that person did to others was cruel and unusual punishment.

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9/27/2011
Irving/TX

Luz V
Bradley/Nimitz
The death penalty, when carried out humanely, should be completely constitutional because it is carrying out needed punishment against those who intentionally broke the law by bringing pain to others. When one person takes the life of another, shouldn't the murderer be punished for his actions that were obviously illegal and wrong? Shouldn't the family and friends of the victim have justice and be able to know that the person who hurt them can't hurt anyone else rather than living with the knowledge that they're just sitting in a cell waiting to be released? The moral of the story should be “eye for an eye,” once someone has taken the life of another they should be prepared to also give up their own as a fair trade for the sake of everyone involved – in my perfect world the justice system would work completely along the lines of “eye for eye,” but some people would find dragging someone behind a truck for dragging someone else behind a truck inhumane so we all have to settle for the right of capital punishment. In the end, capital punishment is a vital part of keeping people in check both as punishment for capital offenses and as a deterrent against committing violent crimes in the first place.

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9/26/2011
Irving/TX

Marcus A.
Bradley/Nimitz High School
The death penalty should become legalized on state and national grounds. The victim did not ask to become murdered or raped, so the accused should have no choice in whether he or she shall live or not. Perhaps this punishment will be a stern reminder that America was founded with the intention of protecting individual liberty – not with the intention of sheltering criminals from the consequences they deserve. Some people believe that, as humans, we do not have the right to take another person’s life. That’s exactly what should have been patrolling the minds of felons themselves. Their negligence requires repercussions of the strongest sorts. By mercifully vindicating lawbreakers and sustaining them in prison cells, we are supporting such immoral actions, for we are paying for those very jail facilities all the while. Our money, and time, should not be invested in pampering convicts but in showing them that America does not play these sick games. Of course, some may argue that the Eighth Amendment protects us from “cruel and unusual punishments,” but these pertain to times in which we are not held guilty of any crime. If, through enough evidence, a party is found guilty, then he or she should be subject to an appropriate sentence – death if need be. Hopefully, our country will not greatly fear such a dramatic change in our legal system, but it should be this fear that eliminates any and all urges to commit heinous offenses. I’d rather us not go this route.

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9/26/2011
Irving/Tx

Vanessa B.
Bradley/Nimitz
I believe it is constitutional. Many people deserve the death penalty. People with mental issues do not technically deserve the death penalty. They should be put into a mental hospital. I believe it is right to put certain people to death.

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9/26/2011
Irving/Tx

Jennifer J.
Bradley/Nimitz
I'm all for the "an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth" mind set. Unless you're mentally ill or were forced by gunpoint to kill another human being, there is no excuse. If you decide to take a life, your life should be taken. Understandably, there are circumstances where it seems fit for someone to kill another, but only if that person is willing to forfeit their own life as well. The death penalty makes sure that whoever did something terrible will never be able to do it again. It's not a cruel punishment; it's justice. Granted, the courts better be absolutely positive that their "criminal" is actually guilty of heinous crime(s). Don't get me wrong; I'm pro-execution, but I don't want an innocent to be executed for a crime that they didn't commit. If anything, there should be a certain minimum of amount of evidence that would be needed to put a person on death row; just to be safe.