There are guilty people who go free every day. What is appalling is that there are people who are responsible for heinous crimes such as premeditated murder who are free or allowed to live the rest of their lives without food and clothing. These are the same people that taxpayer dollars support. Some of these people do not deserve to live after the crimes they committed. For example, Joe Atkin was a man who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of his half-brother. His adoptive father's constant requests for parole were eventually granted, and Atkin's father was released from his sentence on parole. Atkin then murdered 13-year-old Karen Patterson by shooting her repeatedly in her bed. Atkin then killed his adoptive father in cold blood (McAdams 1). There must be a harsher form of punishment that matches the cruelty of the crimes committed by people like Joe. What other punishment is appropriate in this situation than capital punishment? The death penalty has been used as a form of capital punishment since the early 1600s and is still expected to be used around the world (Eddlem 4). The death penalty must be applied to the fullest extent of the law, as it reduces the number of premeditated murders and punishes capital crimes. Additionally, premeditated murders are almost impossible to stop. It's a truth: when people are determined to kill, they find a way to do it. The death penalty will not stop a man from doing it, nor will it bring the victim back to life. However, he brings justice to the victim's family and friends and punishes the murderer for his blatant crime. For 1,000 murderers, there are on average 2,000 v...... middle of paper ......, Pa.. July 14, 2002: P4. Electronic library. Internet. February 23, 2011Dezhbakhsh, Hashem. “The deterrent effect of capital punishment: evidence from a “judicial experiment””. Economic Inquiry 3(2006):512. Electronic library. Internet. February 22, 2011. Eddlem, Thomas R. “Ten Anti-Death Penalty Errors.” New American, The. June 3, 2002: 23. Electronic library. Internet. February 22, 2011. McAdams, John. “Who speaks on behalf of the victims of those we execute.” Marquette University/Department of Political Science August 17, 2010 Electronic Library. Internet. February 22, 2011. Mubalama, Passy. “Debate on the death penalty [Analysis]”. All of Africa. February 3, 2011 Electronic library. Internet. February 22, 2011. Nduru, Moyiga. “South Africa: political parties want the death penalty reinstated. » Global Information Network. June 8, 2006 Electronic library. Internet. February 23, 2011.Zimring, Franklin. “Marking time on death row.” Directories of the World Book Year. July 1, 2009. Electronic library. Internet. February 22. 2011.