The death penalty is a bad way of punishing criminals no matter how harsh the crime. The death penalty contradicts the eighth and fourteenth amendments of the Constitution. If you think about it, it doesn't teach the criminal anything or really punish them in any way. It is also, a fact that one in seven people that receive the death penalty were later found innocent. There are many better ways to deal with a criminal that murdering them.

The death penalty contradicts the eight and fourteenth amendments. The eight amendment states; "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." The death penalty clearly breaks this amendment being a cruel and unusual punishment. In the death penalty case of Enmunds versus the state of Florida, the Supreme Court states, "We have concluded that imposition of the death penalty in these circumstances...