Should death penalty apply in every country?

It's been more than 25 years since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. For most of that time, the number of executions in this country climbed steadily higher. In the past several years, however, the death penalty has come under increasing criticism. Executions have fallen nationwide from a high of 98 in 1998 to 66 in 2001. Two states, Illinois and Maryland, declared moratoria on the death penalty over concerns that the death penalty could not be administered fairly. Is the death penalty immoral in and of itself? If not, is it unconstitutional? What is required to ensure that the death penalty is administered with fairness, justice, and accuracy?

SelectPlusConvicted Killer Gets Death Penalty in Va.Convicted Killer Gets Death Penalty in Va.The Associated PressA jail escapee who set off a manhunt near Virginia Tech's campus by killing a hospital guard and later, a sheriff's deputy, was sentenced to death Monday despite his attorney's pleas for leniency. (June 24)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] [Notes:morva in courtroom]Convicted killer William Morva has been sentenced to death. [Notes:file of va tech lockdown] A Virginia judge imposed the jury's recommended sentence for the jail escapee who killed a hospital guard and a sheriff's deputy setting off a lockdown at Virginia Tech University months before the deadly campus shooting that happened there. [Notes:courtroom various]At Morva's sentencing on Monday, Defense attorney Thomas Blaylock pleaded for mercy, then Morva made a statement.SOT: Morva: My attorneys, they just did a good job of trying to ask you for mercy, but I don't ask for that. Because to be quite honest, I think there are very few people in this whole courtroom who even know what that word means." [Notes:outburst] That prompted an angry outburst from the wife of one of his victims who shouted that Morva showed no mercy when killing her husband.SOT: Morva: "I can't fight. There's nothing more I can do. But there are others like me, and I hope you know that. And soon they're going to get together. They're going to sweep over your whole civilization, and they're to going to wipe these smiles off your faces forever. That's all." [Notes:various from Va Tech incident Aug 2006]Morva overpowered a sheriff's deputy at a hospital where he had been taken for treatment in August 2006, and used the deputy's pistol to shoot a security guard. The a day later he shot a sheriff's deputy near the Virginia Tech campus. [Notes:Morva being escorted from courtroom] Grubbs set the execution date for October 21st, but Morva has an automatic appeal. ___ ___, The Associated Press

The death penalty was the only thing that we had to keep the retarded walking the straight and narrow.

Rep. Ron Paul discusses the federal death penalty. For more information, see http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/special/forums/

Friends, family of Marcus Garrett testified Thursday at his sentencing hearing, trying to convince the judge to sentence him to life and not death for killing three people in 2005.

In this clip, Sam and Dre discuss the death penalty, and it's practiality in relation to certain crimes...WARNING: very controversial views are expressed! Not for the easily offended!

Florida's electric chair, Old Sparky, used in 238 heart-warming executions, is finally laid to rest.

Snoop Dogg adds 'activist' to his long list of credits as he and his friends, including actor Jamie Foxx, seek clemency for death-row inmate Stanley 'Tookie' Williams.

The passing of Pope John Paul II is a time for reflection on how to use the Pope's death to further the conservative agenda.