Yeah, check it out y'all, one two we back up in this joint!

The death penalty is one of the most controversial subjects to discuss in our society today. Both sides for and against the penalty are very passionate about it. In my own idea of it though, I would say that the death penalty is not affective as a way to stop crime and criminals. Let's face it, does the death penalty deter violent crimes? No, it doesn't. Violent crimes will always happen, no matter what the punishment may be. There will always be people who are extremely angry or insane, and no matter what the consequences are, they will commit crimes of unspeakable violence. On top of that, it costs millions upon millions of dollars to execute someone. For example, in Maryland, the number of death penalty cases in that state will cost the citizens about $107.3 million dollars in their lifetime. That is completely ridiculous. Think about how much money that Texas and Florida spend on the death penalty. It just isn't worth it.

The only thing that the death penalty is used for is retribution, pure and simple. The death penalty will never deter violent crimes. Real talk, son. We as Americans are (unfortunately) bloodthirsty people. We are out for justice and revenge. The only way I think the death penalty will work; if the criminals themselves agree to face the death penalty. I'm sure many criminals wouldn't want to rot their lives away in a prison. There was only one thing that surprised me in my death penalty findings; and that's that the two states that allow hanging as a method of punishment are Washington and New Hampshire. I could picture a lot of southern states allowing that, but it is not to be. I find it very hard to believe that a state in the New England territory allows hangings. I thought that was a very liberal area and I can't believe that that's actually allowed there.

You can never master, it's invincible, Wu-Tang indispensable
One nation, under God, indivisible
With liberty and justice, the mic is in my clutches
Thugs who bring ruckus leave in crutches

Insanity Defense: worth it?

"Pumpin' bumpin' scoopin' scumpin'
Homies be jumpin' with the pumpkins"

Personally, I think the insanity defense is a viable solution for crimes, but it definitely does get overused. When I read through my books on serial killers, I see how some of these killers clearly have some level of consciousness and reasoning, but they attempt to get off on the insanity defense anyway. In some cases, it's understandable (such as Ed Gein or Edmund Kemper), but with other's, I think it's just a cheap ploy to avoid jail time or the death penalty. I am glad that most juries find the insanity defense to be bunk. However, I do believe that sanity should be at least reviewed in some cases. Take for example, Albert Fish. Albert Fish was a serial killer who claimed victims all over the northeastern U.S., and he clearly had maniacal tendencies. When he was apprehended by the police and taken to court, he attempted to get off on the insanity defense, but he was found sane. I think this was a mistake. Anybody who had read about Albert Fish's life would know how big of a lunatic he was. I think he definitely could have gotten off, but he didn't. Defining insanity differs from many people though. What some people might consider insane, others might consider "quirky" or "eccentric". It's a very difficult thing to define completely. It's just one of those things. Finding whether someone is insane or not has go to be one of the hardest things for people to agree on.

Andrea Yates is one of those cases. I think Mrs. Yates was clearly insane, but I do not like how she is out and about in the free world. A person who has killed 5 other human beings does not deserve to have her rights. I just find that unfair. The death penalty wouldn't do anything to her I think. She wouldn't be able to comprehend why she was being killed. She thinks that the atrocity she committed was doing a good thing. This is where mental institution comes in handy. I think that the U.S. should start putting that to good use.