Capital punishment “[dates back] to the 18th century BC in the code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon, who codified [capital punishment] for 25 different crimes”, so it is not surprising that it is still used today (“Premature death…” 1). In the United States, capital punishment has been legalized in 32 states since 1996. Capital punishment is not as inhumane as it seems; in the United States it is limited by the Eighth Amendment Contrary to most beliefs, capital punishment is not used in all cases of rapists, molesters or murderers, but only in cases where it is necessary. In most states the death penalty is applied only for certain crimes. For example, “Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty for all crimes except treason” (“Premature Death…” 1). Subsequently, many other countries around the world began to abolish capital punishment. However, putting criminals and serial killers on death row and in prison is precarious. Some serial killers have been released and killed again. According to artist Chuck Asay in his cartoon “Death Penalty Debate,” he portrays that “…even more people were killed by homicides who were allowed to continue living” (Egendorf 61). For example, Ian McLoughlin, in 1992, “was sentenced to life in prison for stabbing a man to death” (Baron 1). Subsequently, McLoughlin was released to “recover” this horrible crime (Baron 1). After being given a second chance, Ian McLoihlin "beat a man to death with a hammer but escaped with a manslaughter conviction and a ten-year sentence" (Baron 1). His manslaughter did not stay there. In fact, in 1992, McLoughlin was convicted of murder. He continued his killing spree as he “was given another life sentence for murder after targeting an elderly man and then stabbing to death a neighbor who… middle of paper… is an example of the United States justice system." The Daily Targum. The Daily Targum, February 28, 2014. Web. May 21, 2014. “Do Prisoners Have Too Many Conveniences, Such as Cable TV and the Internet, While Incarcerated?” The Premier Online Debate.org website. May 21, 2014. Egendorf, Laura K. The Death Penalty, San Diego, CA.: Greenhaven, 2002. Print.Flamehorse. “5 Arguments For and Against the Death Penalty – Listverse.” Listverse, June 1, 2013. Web. May 20, 2014. Gibson, Kyle. “It is necessary to use capital punishment in a free world.” PolicyMic Network Inc, July 1, 2013. Web, May 21, 2014. “Part I: History of the Death Penalty.” Death Penalty Information Center. Web, May 20, 2014. Sharp, Dudley. “Document on the Death Penalty,” NP, May 2, 2014. “Top 10 Pros and Cons – ProConorg.” Titles. Np, nd Web. April 30. 2014.