René HicknerMrs. PolehankiEnglish March 21, 2014Euthanasia is not the solutionMurder, rape, betrayal, what do these three crimes have in common? These are all examples of capital crimes, and in some states, if someone is convicted of these or any other capital crimes, they can be sentenced to the death penalty, also known as euthanasia. The death penalty is wrong, life imprisonment is much more effective. The history of the death penalty in the United States dates back to the founding of the country in 1608. When the Pilgrims came from Europe, they brought with them many of their beliefs, including the death penalty. The laws governing capital punishment were very different during the colonial era. People can be sentenced to death or for almost any reason, from petty theft to illicit trade (Introduction to the Death Penalty). Over the years, euthanasia has evolved a lot but it remains very painful and inhumane. until the late 1800s, hanging was the most popular form of euthanasia. Delaware and Washington are the only two states that still use hanging as a means of putting someone to death. When a person is hanged, they are sometimes weighed the day before so that a sandbag drop test can be performed. This drop is used to find the right length of rope. If the rope is too long, the fall could be too powerful and cause the prisoner to be decapitated. If the length of the rope is too short, it will not cause a strong enough fall and the prisoner's neck will not break, holding him there until he chokes. Just before the prisoner is executed, the rope is boiled so that it stretches further and the knot is lubricated to ensure that it slides smoothly and effortlessly. prisoners have their hands tied behind their backs and it is bli...... middle of paper......necessary and innocent or mentally ill people have been euthanized. To make matters even worse, who gets sentenced to death or not depends on the race of the victim. 77% of all people executed since 1977 have been convicted of murdering white people, while African Americans make up half of the murder victims (Facts About Death Penalty). Our justice system is not perfect. So, as long as the death penalty is legal, an innocent person can be put to death. it costs taxpayers about 10 times more than keeping an inmate in prison for life. 139 people were wrongly convicted and released from death row. Euthanasia for murder does nothing to help the victims' families. the death penalty eats up millions of dollars that could be used to help the victim's family get help coping with their loved one's death (Live Free or Die Alliance).