Death Penalty The death penalty is an issue that has been debated for many years, and will be a highly debatable topic in the future. Because the death penalty has never been a clear-cut rule, there is much controversy on weather it is a cruel and savage act of justice or a socialized humane source of punishment. In addition to the fact that innocent people could be sentenced to the death penalty, we as a society do not have the right to take one another’s lives; two wrongs do not make a right. Americans are granted constitutional rights that can not be taken away from the individual. Accordingly, each and every person is entitled to a fair and speed