Free Essay on Capital Punishment

In the case where Simmons planned and committed a capital murder to Mrs. Shirley Crook, the court ruled out, and he was sentenced to death. However, after filing an appeal in the Supreme Court, the court overturns the ruling basing their judgment on the Stanford V. Kentucky, 492, U.S. 361 (1989) case as the precedent. They held that it is unconstitutional to impose capital punishment (death sentence) for the crimes which are committed by the victims while they are still less than 18 years of age. It is a decision which gave Simmons a chance to live again even though he was later subjected to life imprisonment.

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In my opinion, I respect the rule of law and coincide that the underage should not be subjected to capital punishment. However, on the ground of social justice, Simmons would have been subjected to a punishment which commensurates with the heinous at they did. It is because when he is not subjected to such punishment; many offenders will take advantage by committing murder since they are protected with such precedents. For example, it is this verdict of the Supreme Court which enabled the Lee Boyd Malvo free from the Beltway Sniper attacks. It is thus a symbol of more crimes in future since they will seem to be misusing the article and the precedent of the Supreme Court.

I purport to support the death penalty since the action was planned and it was an intentional act. An underage person cannot have an ability to plan, invade and act the way Simmons and the crew acted. Throwing Shirley Crook on the bridge and conducting a robbery with violence is not a simple act. Therefore, for justice to prevail Simmons would have been subjected to the punishment which is equivalent to what he did.

References

Roper v. Simmons - Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roper_v._Simmons

Roper v. Simmons - Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roper_v._Simmons