In 1638, two men accused of piracy were hanged. This marked the beginning of the death penalty in what is now known as the state of Maryland. Since then, an estimated 309 people have been killed for their crimes in Maryland. Up until 1955, all executions carried out in the state of Maryland have been by hanging. However, beginning in 1957, four men were killed using poison gas, which is viewed as more humane than hanging. Still, some say that the death penalty should be used more often, while others argue it should be made illegal.
The Death Penalty Information Center states, “In 2009, after nearly passing abolition legislation, Maryland instituted the tightest death penalty restrictions in the country.” This proves that while many still believe in the death penalty, the concentration of people in Maryland see it as a force for evil. In an article by FindLaw, Maryland Capital Punishment Laws said that in 2013, Maryland became the 18th U.S. state to abolish the death penalty. This has been viewed as a step in the right direction by the lawmakers in Maryland, who see the death penalty as incredibly ruthless and expensive. An execution by lethal injection costs three times as much as housing, feeding, and clothing a prisoner for their entire life without possibility of parole, but it may be a cheaper option than electrocution and hanging in countries that use those methods.
In addition, many feel as though executions are barbaric and unneeded. In an article published by the American Civil Liberties Union titled ‘The Case Against The Death Penalty,’ they state that “capital punishment is an intolerable denial of civil liberties,” and, because of this, is “uncivilized.” However, in an essay released by Oxplore, it is argued that “executing someone permanently stops the worst criminals.” And while this may be true, the same article later states, “Every form of execution causes the prisoner suffering.”
However, some prisoners on death row in America might be luckier. In other countries, executions are often much more brutal. For example, according to the Japan Society, “Nagoya Detention Center (is) where convicted murderers are hanged.” Moreover, in Nigeria, where the government’s spending budget for 2020 is merely 1/31 to that of the United States, the use of death by firing squad is still being used to this day, simply due to its lower cost.
While the execution methods that are still in use today may appear to be harsh, compared to some forms of capital punishment from before the modern era, they might not seem so bad. While one living in the second century may experience being fed live to animals, and one in nineteenth century India might be trampled by an elephant.
While the death penalty has been made illegal in the state of Maryland, it continues to affect people around the world. Many protest it, citing moral and financial reasoning, while others believe it to be an efficient method of crime deterrent.
Article by Brady Cohen of Herbert Hoover Middle School
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons