3. When, where, and for what crime was the first person executed in America?
Captain George Kendall was executed in Jamestown colony of Virginia in 1608 for being a Spanish spy.
4. Once the moratorium was lifted, when and where was the first execution in the US?
Once the moratorium was lifted, Utah would be the first to execute Gary Gilmore in 1977.
5. How many states currently have the death penalty?
31 states currently have the death penalty.
6. What was decided regarding capital punishment in Atkins v. Virginia?
Atkins v. Virginia is a case in which the Supreme Court ruled that executing people with intellectual disabilities violated the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishments. However, intellectual disability was left to …show more content…
42). Beau argues that the principle by itself does not provide a defense for the death penalty; it is fully satisfied by a lesser punishment, such as imprisonment. Therefore he asked the question, “Why do murderers deserve to die when rapists do not deserve to be raped.” Beau goes on to say, “Retributive considerations rightly tell us who deserve to be punished–it is the guilty. But it does not tell us what their punishment ought to be” (p. 41). Therefore the death penalty is not supported by the principle of …show more content…
Review the Last Statements in the back of the Texas Death Row text. Identify one statement that provoked an emotional response from you. Provide the following information: The name of the executed inmate; the statement made; your emotional reaction to the statement; and why you reacted to the statement the way you did.
James Smith #36: [Portion of spoken last statement, most of which was not recorded]: “I have already spoken the truth but because the truth was spoken by one of the accused, the truth was not respected so for that to se me free it must come from the one who spoke a lie. I am not the killer. I myself did not kill anyone. But I go to my death not begging for my life. I will not humiliate myself. I’ll let no man break me…When people wake up to the reality of execution, the price [that] will be paid will be a dear one. Hare Krishna.”
Emotional