They also remind us that after a moratorium of 10 years, the Supreme Court ruled again in 1976 that capital punishment was not in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Abolitionists disagree, claiming that capital punishment violates the Eight Amendment. Their argument is twofold. First, they assert that the Supreme Court should and does continually reinterpret the Constitution in light of an ever-changing social climate. This argument is convincing in light of the fact that the court has indeed changed its position.
Abolitionists disagree, claiming that capital punishment violates the Eight Amendment.
Their argument is twofold. First, they assert that the Supreme Court should and does continually reinterpret the Constitution in light of an ever-changing social climate. This argument is convincing in light of the fact that the court has indeed changed its position. Supporters of the death penalty claim that punishment, including capital punishment, helps deter crime by intimidating potential offenders. In theory, this argument seems plausible.