In Arkansas, there have been 4 executions in 8 days because the Governor didn't want to lose the opportunity to use drugs for lethal injections that were to expire on April 30, 2 days from now. The individual killed last night lurched and jerked and it took a while. China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq and the United States have capital punishment. 140 countries never had the death penalty, or have abolished it. Maryland (where I lived most of my life) abolished it in 2013. New Mexico (where I live now) abolished it in 2009. A total of 18 states and DC do not have the death penalty. Here is why: (from nodeathpenalty.org, and I am directly quoting from their website).
"Six Reasons to Oppose the Death Penalty
The death penalty is racist.
The death penalty punishes the poor.
The death penalty condemns the innocent to die.
The death penalty is not a deterrent to violent crime.
The death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment.
The death penalty fails to recognize that guilty people have the potential to change, denying them the opportunity to ever rejoin society."
If you have read all of this, and disagree because people should pay for their crimes, or there must be vengeance, or it gives families of victims peace or resolution or closure, I suggest you read more about it. At the very least, consider that there are innocent people on death row.
