The death penalty is a divisive issue in the United States. Although he has millions of supporters, there is also strong opposition. Today there are thirty-three states in which the death penalty is legal and seventeen states which have abolished it (Death Penalty Information Center). I believe the death penalty should be legal across the country. There are many reasons why I believe the death penalty should be legalized in all states, including deterrence and retribution. On the other hand, critics consider the death penalty to be unconstitutional and irrevocable. The use of capital punishment greatly discourages any wrongdoer from committing a crime such as murder. Many people's greatest fear is death; therefore, if they know that death is a possible consequence of their actions, they are less likely to perform such acts. Ernest van den Haag, professor and author of "Punishing Criminals: Concerning a Very Old and Painful Question" wrote of the question of deterrence: "...capital punishment is likely to be more deterrent than other punishments because people fear death more than anything else. They mostly fear deaths deliberately inflicted by law and planned by the courts…the threat of the death penalty may deter some murderers who otherwise might not have been deterred. And the death penalty is certainly the only one that can deter prisoners already serving a life sentence who are tempted to kill a guard, or offenders about to be arrested and facing a death sentence. »Ernest van den Haag said that capital punishment or the death penalty is the strongest deterrent society has against murder, which has been proven in many cases. "Since society has the greatest interest in preventing murder... middle of paper......and with a non-black victim, regardless of the severity of the murder committed. Black-on-black crimes are least likely to receive the death penalty, followed by crimes committed by other defendants, regardless of the race of their victims. It is important to note that in these cases, race can more easily become the deciding factor in who lives and who dies. Capital punishment can be a difficult topic to discuss because people tend to have extreme opinions about it. The death penalty is an asset to society. It can stop/deter potential criminals and serve as retaliation against criminals. I believe that the death penalty can be used as a useful tool to convict criminals who have committed some of the worst crimes known to mankind. It is crucial to begin passing legislation legalizing the death penalty across the United States so that justice can be properly and legitimately served...