The death penalty has been a hot topic over the last few years. Some people believe that it is immoral and generally a bad policy, but the facts point the other way. The death penalty while opposed by some has been very successful. No executed person has been proven innocent since the 1900's. Besides it keeps murderers from killing agin. As to the popularity, still more people support the death penalty than  not and this country is based on the majority party's opinion. The death penalty has been successful because criminals can not commit another crime again, once they have been executed.