Against Capital Punishment

... Theory of Knowledge Against Capital Punishment Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is used today as a punishment to several different crimes, such as homicide, multiple homicide, child murder and rape ending in death. History shows that the death penalty was used on people in the 17th century who were accused of being witches. It was also used in the 18th century for several hundred offenses, including murder as well as witchcraft. Most of the crimes punishable by death, however, were crimes against personal property, as well as "cursing, adultery, praying to false idols, lying under oath, and other more serious offenses such as rape, kidnapping, and murder." (Gottfried 15) Two people who opposed the death penalty were Benjamin Franklin and William Bradford, whom had both been influenced by Dr. Benjamin Rush, who is "considered to be the founder of the anti-capital punishment movement in the United States." (Gottfried 15)

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