1.  How many states currently have laws prohibiting the use of the death penalty?

2.  Which state has a ballot measure on November's ballot asking voters to decide whether or not to repeal the state's death penalty?

3.  Why do death penalty opponents Amnesty International and National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty think states are beginning to prohibit the death penalty as a punishment?

4.  Which political party generally supports the death penalty as a fitting punishment for some crimes, and which party opposes the death penalty as cruel and unusual punishment?

5.  Which presidential candidate supports your view on this issue?  Would this affect who you vote for for president?  Explain your answer.

6.  Regarding the use of the death penalty, Amnesty International's Joshua Reubenstein said: "...it's not a question of what the condemned prisoner deserves."  In your opinion, do some crimes deserve the death penalty?  Explain your answer.

7.  Consider this:  Sentencing a murderer to serve time in prison for purposely killing someone does not deter people from committing murder, just as sentencing thieves to serve time in prison for stealing does not deter theft. 
a) What is the purpose of the death penalty? 
b) What is a fitting punishment for murder?