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Death Row No
More?
Ariana Mustakis
Mrs.Dunne
English 11R
03/09/17
The families of the victim sobbing spotting their childs face be plastered on the screen a
not able to believe that their child would do something like this and get the death penalty. The
death penalty is to cruel for the serial killer and therefore, I am against the death penalty. Many
are all for it but others have a different opinion about serial killers getting the death penalty.
Serial Killers who have gotten the death penalty and was executed include, John Wayne Gacy,
Ted Bundy and the female serial killer named, Aileen Wuornos. There are both pros and cons
when it comes to putting serial killers on death row while they serve time in jail. Some prefer
them to get what they deserve while others think it is too cruel for a punishment. In 2003, a
Gallop report showed public support was at a high level with 74 percent for the death penalty for
convicted killers. A small majority, however, still favored the penalty when given a choice
between life in prison and the death penalty. A total of 885 death row prisoners have been
executed from 1976 until 2003. Many Serials have received the death penalty and was on death
row for years. Even though people believe that it is the right thing to place the death penalty, it is
just as cruel as the actual murder.
The definition of a serial killer is a person who kills three or more people over a long period of
time. They are usually male who possess a personality of a psychoneurotic. One serial killer that
was put on death row was named John Wayne Gacy. He was also alias as The Killer Clown.
He was a repeated sex offender who victimized countless people in his lifetime. Gacy was caught
sexually assaulting two teenaged boys in the year, 1968. He was sentenced up to 10 years in
prison. He was released after serving in confinement in just 18 months due to exemplary
behavior as in inmate. After being released he enjoyed dressing up as Pogo the Clown. He was
a well respected business man and liked by his neighbors. He was arrested again years later after
suspicion of kidnapping. He murdered 33 young men. Most of the bodies were hidden in a crawl
space in his house, in his yard, or if he didnt have any space. Police found the bones in his
basement then he was executed in 1994 by lethal injection. The next case is a female serial killer
whose name is Aileen Wuornos. She was a prostitute who murdered at least seven men between
1989 and 1990. She lived a life of abuse and neglect living out in the cold in the woods. She has
spent time previously for robberies and assault. She killed those seven men at the time of her
prostitution. She was finally caught in a bar in Florida and arrested. She claimed that the
murders were an act of self-defense. She was put on death row and executed also by lethal
Many people support the capital punishment that is given to serial killers. Does or does not
capital punishment deters other criminals from committing murders? No because there are serial
killers later in the years. The religious community does not agree about the punishment for
murder. Some in the group, had pointed out one of the Ten commandments which is, thou shalt
not kill. No form of murder is allowed according to the Old Testament. Others who are for the
punishment claim, Eye for an eye, or a Life for a Life. They also believe that the death
punishment is just as wrong as murder. The primary alternative for the death penalty is
imprisonment. But, other people believe that keeping a prisoner behind bars and alive for the rest
of their existence is a waste of a taxpayer's money. Many countries who had formerly supported
the death penalty, now had banned the practice. Should the United States do the same? Also,
people who oppose the death penalty claim that it is horrific and inexcusable. The individuals
who oppose also claim that executing the killer does nothing to bring the victim back. Along
with the opinions of others there are pros and cons of the death penalty,
There are both pros and cons of giving serial killers the death penalty. The first pro that
comes with giving serial killers a death penalty is that it may have the killers think twice about
killing someone even though they are already on death row. DNA testing has revealed past
mistaken convictions. 111 people were released from death row because of mistaken convictions.
The evidence of the DNA proved that the person did not commit the crime for which they were
convicted for. 55 percent of the public feels confident that the death penalty is applied fairly but,
39 percent says it is not applied fairly. A con about enforcing the death penalty on a serial killer
that was mentioned is that is barbaric and cruel. People who oppose the death penalty claim that
it is just as bad as the murder. It shows a lack of respect for human life. Another pro is that it can
make other people think twice about wanting to commit murder. The next con is that it doesnt
due justice. People would rather have the killer stay in jail like they deserve for the rest of their
Many serial killers were killed by the death penalty either by electric chair or by lethal
injection . Their families couldnt bare to witness their child in court because they murdered
another human being. The death penalty is just as cruel as an actual murder, I am against the
death penalty being given to serial killers. If the cost of keeping serial killers in a cell for life,
then maybe we can find a way to be able to obtain the money to do so.