According to www.deathpenalityinfo.org, the first legal death penalty ever issued was on June 25, 1790 as a result of a murder Thomas Bird committed in Maine. Since then, the United States has executed a total of 340 people, 336 men, and 4 women. As of today, the death penalty is the highest form of capital punishment and is predominantly issued to violators of murder. People that have committed murder are arrested and put on trial. A recent example of a crime that may issue the death penalty is California's case against Scott Peterson. Scott Peterson was arrested for the murder of his wife who was pregnant with his child. He is currently on trial and awaiting a sentence of life in jail without parole, or the death penalty. It is up to a jury of six men and six women to determine his fate.

When discussing the death penalty many lawful...