Why It's Time to Re-think the Death Penalty

You're in a court, and someone's life hangs in the balance. That's exactly what happened to Marcellus Williams in Missouri on September 24. He was convicted of murder in 2001, but over time, doubts about his guilt surfaced. Thanks to the Innocence Project, it became clear that Williams' case wasn't as cut and dry as it seemed. Yet, despite these doubts, he was put to death. The death penalty has been around for a long time in the US, but is it still relevant? Some people think it's a form of justice, but is it really? Does it stop crime or help victims' families heal? Not really. It's more about revenge, a way to show that the law is tough on crime. Long ago, public executions were common. Today, we find those methods barbaric. But some people think that death by lethal injection is okay. Is it really moral for the government to kill someone in a "nicer" way? Does it make a difference if it happens in public or private? Those who support the death penalty often say that the worst crimes deserve the harshest punishments. But if you think about it, our actions aren't just about free will. We don't choose the circumstances we're born into or how we're raised. These things influence our behavior more than we think. Outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, activists have been protesting against the death penalty. They're marking the anniversary of a big decision that allowed executions to continue in the US. It's a reminder that the debate over the death penalty is far from over. People who do bad things should be punished, but should the state have the power to end someone's life? Isn't that a bit too much power for the state to have? After all, the justice system isn't perfect. It makes mistakes, and sometimes innocent people are caught in the crossfire. Since 1973, at least 200 people in the US have been found innocent after being sentenced to death. That's a big problem. If a system meant to protect people ends up killing the innocent, something needs to change. Marcellus Williams' case is a reminder of the flaws in the death penalty system. We might never know if he was truly guilty, but we do know that the state took his life even though there were doubts. It's time to re-think the death penalty and maybe even abolish it.