Confliction

It's an interesting bit of irony that the claims of a lowered murder rate since 1976 ignore the fact that the the regions of the US which have had the most executions since then tend to have higher. For example, the south has had over 970 executions since 1976, but they hold the highest murder rate in the nation, averaging on the high end of 6 and hitting 7 for every one hundred thousand people. On the contrary, the northeast has balanced around the low to middle 4 area for every one hundred thousand people. These results are clear and simple; more executions do not prevent murders from occurring. As a matter of fact, in 2008, the average murder rate for states with the death penalty was 5.2 for every one hundred thousand people, where as the rate for states without capital punishment was only 3.3.

I'm terrible at transitions, but I have recently come across a relatively inactive blog of a death row inmate, and provoked some thought. Firstly, the new age of technology grants some who in the past were completely silent a voice. These people may have committed murder, but by no means is that a reason to deny them the right to free speech. Anyways, Vernon Evans wrote the blog linked on death row, and I suppose it grabs my attention as he always contests his innocence, and he even supports his request for life in prison with reason. He claims that one can not make up for what they have done through death, but a life dedicated to making a positive difference. It is true that other than feeding a desire for revenge, no good has come of using capital punishment. No studies found on the dead bodies for their motives, and no rehabilitation either. The death penalty impairs our judgment and puts our humanity in question.

Death Penalty Info
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/

Meet Vernon
http://www.meetvernon.blogspot.com/