(in the US) The law and the punishment was passed by the legislatures of the various territories and states. At one time every US state enforced a death penalty. Today (2011) 35 states plus the federal Government and the US Military still enforce a death penalty, while in the past several years the legislators of the other states have rescinded their state's capital punishment laws.
The death penalty is not a new idea. Rulers of various types have been killing people throughout human history, and pre-history. Petty tribal chieftains, long before the rise of civilization, were having people put to death. This appears to be the ultimate basis for all concepts of human authority. Obey or die.
Canada, Mexico, UK, France, Germany, and Australia are among many countries that do not have the death penalty
the saints got the first penalty
No. In fact, Wisconsin was the first state in the US to abolish the death penalty, back in 1853.
none since 1976.
Forrest Gregg
Yes, he got the death penalty but no he did not die. After Manson's conviction and sentencing in 1970 the death penalty was struck down by the Supreme Court. That made Manson's death sentences commute to life in prison. This has made him eligibly
effefffe
death penalty
there was never a time without the death penalty.
New Jersey abolished its death penalty in 2007. It was the first state to abolish the death penalty. Also, New York changed the conviction of its last death row convict in 2007.
Some got a death penalty but that were mostly just the ones who were in charge.
The first person to suffer the death penalty in the United States in recent years was Gary Gilmore, in Utah, in 1977, by firing squad.