A Research Study On Juvenile Life Without Parole - 1048 Words

The author of this article is Kallee Spooner is a PHD candidate at Sam Houston State University. Currently she works on a National Institute of Justice study as a Doctoral Research Assistant. Her focus is corrections, juvenile justice, and legal analyses in criminal justice (S.H.S University). In her article, â€Å"Juvenile Life Without Parole,† Spooner addresses the punishment of Juvenile life without parole and questions its constitutionality. She begins with raw numbers, including which states have the most juvenile serving LWOP. Further discussed are the facts that 98% of JLWOP inmates are male, and that black youth are 10 times more likely to receive the sentence than white youth. In terms of severity, LWOP is significantly harsher for†¦show more content†¦Additionally the opening statistics provides engaging introductory information that can be utilized in my paper’s opening. The journal argues that JLWOP goes against our constitutional rights and thu s is ineffective. Catherine Appleton is a senior research fellow at the University of Nottingham with expertise in criminal justice and it’s harshest penalties (Nottingham). Bent Grover hold a PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Cambridge. He worked as a strategy consultant in the U.K. before joining Cyviz as a board member (Cyviz). In the journal, Appleton and Grover discuss the rise of LWOP sentences in the late 20th century as death sentences began to decline and lose favor in the western world. While many consider the death penalty unusually cruel, many do not consider LWOP as a cruel punishment. Crimes that one warranted the death penalty, now generally result in a LWOP sentence, especially after the Supreme Court decided that LWOP was an acceptable sentence in Shick v Reed. While most Americans know the incarceration rate has gone up quadrupled in the past 30 years(or at the very least understand it has grown), many do not know that the LWOP sentences have increased 100 times in the past 30 years. This is in contrast with much of the western world where LWOP is a very rare sentence, if not completely outlawed in some countries. Back in America proponents of LWOP suggest if death is too harsh of aShow MoreRelatedProper Sentencing For Juvenile Murderers908 Words   |  4 PagesProper Sentencing for Juvenile Murderers Juveniles should not receive severe adult sentences for the murders they commit due to their underdeveloped prefrontal cortex not allowing them to fully process decisions and consequences at a young age. In fact, the prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain where decision making originates and does not fully develop until the age of 25. Furthermore, sentencing a juvenile as an adult while they are at an impulsive age and subject to peer pressure is resultingRead MoreJuvenile Death Penalty Essay1353 Words   |  6 PagesJuvenile Death Penalty One of the most controversial questions in the juvenile justice system today is, Should the death penalty be applied to juveniles?†. A lot of people think that the death penalty for juveniles is cruel and unusual punishment and should only be used for adults. The crimes that juveniles commit are as dangerous and as violent as adult crimes. People argue that the adolescent brain does not mature until the late teens or early twenties, and that death penalty should not be theRead MoreJuvenile Justice System And The Juvenile Court System1742 Words   |  7 PagesThe juvenile justice system varies from the adult justice system in many ways. For more than a century, the states have believed that the juvenile justice system was a means to ensuring public safety, by establishing and implementing a system that responds to children as they are maturing into adulthood. Today’s youths, however, are increasingly committing more serious crimes that in turn are raising the publicâ₠¬â„¢s criticism concerning the modern juvenile justice system. There are those who are inRead MoreYouth Offenders in The United States1089 Words   |  5 PagesYouth offenders in the United States who commit an adult crime should they be tried as an adult or sent off to rehab? According to (Juvenile Offender) young people today are more malleable and can be easily influenced. It is mainly believed that the criminal actions by young offenders might be influenced by such external forces such as parental neglect, and inappropriate living conditions or with relations within their family. It is important to note that instead of seeing a rehab program as a formRead MoreLife Without Parole For Juveniles2068 Words   |  9 PagesLife Without Parole for Juveniles On December 17, 1992, 15 year-old Jacob Ind went to school after having murdered his mother and stepfather in the early hours of that morning. In an interview with Frontline he recalled, â€Å"I remember I was sitting in the police station and this is how out of touch of reality I was. I had a small amount of marijuana, like an eighth of an ounce, in my bedroom. And I m telling my brother, You got to get the marijuana or else I m in trouble† (Profile Jacob Ind).Read MoreEssay about Juvenile Life Without Parole, Cruel or Just Unusual?3438 Words   |  14 PagesJuveniles Sentenced to Life without Parole Cruel or Just Unusual? [pic] Juvenile Sentencing: Life without Parole, Cruel or Just Unusual? When the Judge announced the verdict â€Å"Guilty† there was a slight murmur in the court room as was expected. Then the Judge began to announce the sentence â€Å"Life in prison without the possibility of parole†, the words cutting through the air like an arrow through a paper target. The courtroom was an arena of mixed feelings, half cheering in a celebratoryRead MoreThe Death Penalty872 Words   |  4 Pagesinadequacies. Having the death penalty is both expensive and time consuming to sentence criminals to death. The most frequently raised argument for capital punishment is retributive. According to a recent analysis sending to a person to prison for life costs $1.1 million and sending a person to death row costs $3 million because of appeals and enhanced spending to house the individuals on death row (Schaefer). As a deterrent to crime, the death penalty has little effect because the chancesRead MoreJuveniles And The Juvenile Justice System1559 Words   |  7 PagesJuveniles committing crimes is not a new issued being introduced to society; actually, it has been an issue for centuries. However, the big question is, should juveniles be tried in adult courts? Before answering, take into consideration every possible scenario that could have led them to commit the crime. For instance, were they the leader in the act? Did they participate in the crime? Was the juvenile even aware of what was taking place? Were they peer pressured? Did they have any other choiceRead MoreThe American Justice System Is Corrupt1536 Words   |  7 Pagesincarceration, along with the stuffed state budgets. Louisiana, for example, has the highest rate of incarceration I in the world with the majority of its prisoners being privatized prisons, profit facilities. Such institutions could face economic failure withou t a steady influx of prisoners. A 2013 Bloomberg report states that in the past decade the number of inmates in for-profit prisons through the U.S. Rose 44 percent. Corporations who operate prisons, such as Corporation of America and The GEO groupRead MoreCapital Punishment And Juvenile Punishment1631 Words   |  7 Pages Capital punishment is the term used when an individual is put to death by the state or government for the commission of a crime. Until recently, juveniles were not exempt from this punishment, however they would generally need to commit a more serious offense compared to their adult counterpart. Then there was the decision ruling the execution of mentally handicapped individuals was unconstitutional, using the 8th amendment as their authority, while taking into account the diminished capacity of

Abp Assignments - 1021 Words

A.A. Hamilton College, London Assignment Outline Module tutor | | Email | | Course | PGD level 7 | Unit Title | | Study methods: Assessment | | Handout Date: | Submission Deadline: | ------------------------------------------------- Student Name: Student ID: I hereby certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own. Where the work of others has been used to support my work then credit has been acknowledged. Signature: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Date: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Learning Out come (Teachers need to provide own module learning outcomes) Assessment Criteria Assessment criteria detail’s is as follows: To achieve aDistinction grade candidates must: | demonstrate an outstanding level of†¦show more content†¦What is Turnitin? Turnitin is the software that AA Hamilton College uses to calculate the similarity of your assignment to any other document submitted in the same system all over the world. What happens when you submit an assignment on Turnitin? You submit your assignment on Turnitin by submitting it on Livecampus on the assignment submission link. Your assignment is then compared with all of the assignments for all the different units submitted on Livecampus as well as assignments submitted by other students in other colleges and books and documents all over the world. The report generated is not the final report. The final report will only be generated after the final deadline which would mean that once the submission link closes and once every student submitted assignments at AA Hamilton for the specific unit, only then the final report will be generated. This means that if you have shared your assignment with anybody and they have submitted part of it or the full assignment the initial report your friend got would’ve indicated the similarity, but your report would’ve remained unchanged. This is because the report is refreshed every time that you upload your assignment and then finally after the deadline. Af ter the deadline their plagiarism will be high as well as your own. What can you do to avoid getting a high Turnitin score?  · Do not copy pieces of work from any book or website. It needs to be rewritten in yourShow MoreRelatedPolice Safety And Bar Management1789 Words   |  8 PagesinvestigatContract Awesome Bar and Pub (â€Å"ABP†) and Super Security, LLC, a Georgia limited liability corporation (â€Å"Super†), make and enter into this agreement stated below. PREMISES ABP desires to contract with Super for the retention of experienced and qualified security guards to provide unarmed, uniformed guard services. Based on these premises, the parties make this agreement. AGREEMENT In consideration of the promises made below, the parties agree : ABP and Super make this contract for SecurityRead MoreMy Philosophy Of The Medical Field870 Words   |  4 Pagesat Rush University Medical Center for nearly two years. During that period, I realized the need re-explore the pediatric field in a different approach and to have a new insight through training in the US. Moreover, the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) required repeating my pediatric residency in an accredited program before I can sit for the Pediatric Cardiology Board Examination. After the completion of 3 years of pediatric residency in Michigan State University and passing the American Board ofRead MoreThe System Of Science And The Law1069 Words   |  5 PagesCHAPTER 1 Justice and Science Written Assignment Q.1 The system of science and the law have two different purpose. Summarize these in your words. Ans. The purpose of science and law are completely different from each other. As science is responsible for making us understand the natural world. Science is completely based on data and concepts which are together called scientific methods. Where law serves as system to find the truth via fair trial and decision of judge or jury. Q.2 What type ofRead MoreEthical And Socially Responsible Business Practice Within A Business Case1388 Words   |  6 PagesAssignment Two – Essay The strengths, limitations and challenges of ethical and socially responsible business practice within a business case of my choice – ALDI Supermarket. Introduction In April (ALDI) over took Waitrose at the UK’s sixth-biggest supermarket with 5.3% of the market share, and aiming to increase its UK workforce to 35,000 by 2022 (ALDI) is going from strength to strength, is excessive profit earning related to this business applying an ethical and socially responsible businessRead MoreWestmount Retirement Residence Case1488 Words   |  6 Pagesservices. Food services, Laundry service can be done by direct costing (variable costing) depends on the consumption of the resident, but this may take again a lot of expenditure to maintains individual costing and billing. Activity-  based  pricing  (ABP) is  a  pricing method  that  combines  market  research  data with  cost   accounting  information  to   establish prices  for  products   and  services  that  result  in designed  profits  .(internet resources) Recommendation 1: The net profit must be at leastRead MoreValue Added Markiting4538 Words   |  19 PagesUse the case study on Blue Jet Airways to perform the 6 following tasks ABP Level 7. PgDBM Value Added Marketing Assignment 1. Understand market value from different perspectives in an organisation of your choice. You|Learning outcomes|| may use examples of organisations you have worked for or you are familiar with.|and assessment|| ||criteria|| |||| 1(a)|Explain the nature of value added marketing with regard to tangible and intangible|1.1|| |dimensions.||| 1(b)|Illustrate how serviceRead MorePurchasing And Supply Chain Management Analysis2492 Words   |  10 PagesPURCHASING AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS OF TWO COMPANIES TESCO AND ASDA Summary I have chosen to do the assignment on comparing these retail giants over their purchase and supply chain management and its key issues. I was working for a firm in india which is indulged in day to day purchase and supply and was not much effective. It was the main reason to do a research on these firms and to discover how do they handle such an effective supply chain management. Researching on key issuesRead MoreSwot and Pestel Analysis of an Organisation of Your Choice. British Airways Plc3340 Words   |  14 PagesHAMILTON COLLEGE LONDON Association of Business Practitioners (ABP) Assignment In Strategic Management amp; Business Planning (SMBP) Assignment Assignment Topic: SWOT and PESTEL Analysis of an organisation of your choice. Submitted by: Jon Jon Villanueva 18786/PGD/110786 Submitted to: Mr. Fayyaz Alam Instructor Submission date 17th of June 2011 Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................ 1 Read MoreOrganizational Behaviour Individual Assignment5782 Words   |  24 PagesSTUDENT NAME : TSANWANI R STUDENT NUMBER : 20150274 ASSIGNMENT TITLE : ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR DATE : 05 APRIL 2009 PROGRAMME : ABP/BTECH Contents Page Executive summary 3 Using shaping as a management tool 4-7 Heredity 8-11 Factors that may contribute to differences in patterns of job satisfaction 12-15 Factors that differentiate good decision makers from poor ones 16-19 Bibliography 20-21 Executive summary Read MoreOrganizational Behaviour Individual Assignment5793 Words   |  24 PagesSTUDENT NAME : TSANWANI R STUDENT NUMBER : 20150274 ASSIGNMENT TITLE : ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR DATE : 05 APRIL 2009 PROGRAMME : ABP/BTECH Contents Page Executive summary 3 Using shaping as a management tool 4-7 Heredity 8-11 Factors that may contribute to differences in patterns of job satisfaction 12-15 Factors that differentiate good decision makers from poor ones 16-19 Bibliography 20-21

Google Communication and Culture free essay sample

Google Most people know the name Google and know that it is a worldwide search engine. Larry Page and Sergey Brian founded Google in 1998. Their mission statement is â€Å"to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. † (McCracken, 2005, p. 1)Google is always trying to expand their databases and make as many resources available to as many people as they can without restrictions. Google lives by its motto â€Å"Don’t be evil† and expects employees in and out of work to follow their code of conduct; which places a heavy emphasis on Ethical business practices. Google also expects consultants, contractors, and other companies that they do business with to follow their code of conduct. Failure to do so would result in disciplinary actions or termination of services. (Google Investor Relations: Code of Conduct, 2009) Google prides its self on being a large conglomerate that still maintains the feel of a small business. We will write a custom essay sample on Google: Communication and Culture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They do this by working in small teams on various projects. When a project is over, the team disbands and the members move onto another team project. The corporate environment consists of meeting rooms with couches and a relaxing atmosphere. Robbins Jude, 2007) For team projects or corporate meetings, Google encourages innovative thinking and originality. There is no hierarchy in meetings so everyone feels that they can participate and their input is valued. Google puts more emphasis on employee ideas than bureaucracy and, as a result, the turnaround time to implement new ideas is much faster. (Sullivan, 2007) Google also values change in order to keep up with the ever changing market. They are very selective in their hiring process, hiring people who can learn quickly, adapt to change and, most importantly, can work well with others in a group setting. Google puts more emphasis on ability over background. (Robbins Jude, 2007) The companies’ culture has everything to do with communication within the organization. Google places a lot of trust in their employees, relying on their hiring process to employ motivated and goal driven individuals. As a result, there are fewer managers per employee than in most companies. During company meetings everyone has an equal say and is encouraged to speak their mind. Google instills a lot of trust in its employees by sharing as much information as possible with them. (Hardy, 2005) Conflict is an important factor in group communication. It encourages discussion and brainstorming. Chief Executive Eric Schmidt recalled a meeting early in Google’s carrier. It was a ten person debate that lasted two hours. Everyone was armed with a lot of data, and in the end, the decision was unanimous. (Hardy, 2005) Google’s values were recently tested against China’s government. When Google decided to market in China, they ran into a dilemma: either abide by China’s laws and filter any search results that the government does not agree with, or not operate in China at all. Google chose to design web search engines that accommodated these restrictions. This decision created uproar with Human Rights Watch. Google was accused of violating human rights and their own code of conduct. (Brenkert, 2009) In December 2009 there was a large scale attack on Google’s databases, along with several other companies, to gain access to email accounts belonging to people who were members of the Human Rights movements. As a result, Google decided to stop censoring their search results. (Meserve Ahlers, 2010) They then announced their intentions to withdraw from China unless the Chinese government lessened their censor restrictions. (Google Vs. China, 2010) Google has a strong reputation for upholding its values and code of conduct. References Brenkert, G. G. (2009). Google, Human Rights, and Moral Compromise. Journal of Business Ethics , 453-478. Gaddam, A. (2008). AskStudent. Retrieved from askstudent. com: http://www. askstudent. com/google/list-of-google-core-values/ Google corporate Information. (2010). Retrieved from Google. com: http://www. google. com/corporate/culture. html Google Investor Relations: Code of Conduct. (2009, April 8). Retrieved February 22, 2010, from Google Investor Relations: http://investor. oogle. com/conduct. html Google Vs. China. (2010, January 14). Retrieved from The Washington Poat: http://www. washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/13/AR2010011302908. html Hardy, Q. (2005, 11 14). Google Thinks Small. (cover story) , pp. 198-202. McCracken, H. (2005, August). A Google, Google, Google, Google World. Up Front , p. 17. Meserve, J. , Ahlers, M. M. (2010). Google Reports China-base d Attack, Says Pullout Possible. Washington: CNN. Piper, P. S. (2004). Google Spawn: The Culture Surrounding Google. Searcher ,

Should gay marriages be allowed

Introduction Over the past three decades, few debates have evoked more commend and political turmoil as the efforts to redefine marriage as it is traditionally understood so as to include same-sex relationships. Traditionally, marriage is understood to mean the joining of two heterosexuals in a union that is sanctioned by both religious and political authorities in the country.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Should gay marriages be allowed? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, there has been increased advocacy for the definition of marriage to include same-sex unions due to the prevalence of homosexual relationships in the society as well as the overwhelming acceptance of gay relationships in many countries in the world. In the beginning of the 19th century, homosexual relationships were shunned by the society with some states even criminalizing them. Volokh states that this state of affairs has changed and from the 1960s, the society stated to be more accommodative of homosexuals with laws being established to stop discrimination on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation (106). From this acceptance of gay relationships, there have been increasing calls for the universal legalization of gay marriages. Specifically, gay rights activists hope to achieve the same rights and benefits accorded to married heterosexual couples for gay couples. This call for legalizing gay marriages has been met with substantial opposition from people who are in favor of the opinion that the marriage institute is exclusive to heterosexual couples. This paper will argue that gay marriages should not be allowed since they would lead to a breakdown of the institute of marriage, have a negative impact on children, and lead to a surge of marriages of convenience. Why Gay Marriages should not be allowed If gay people are allowed to marry, it will lead to the breakdown of the institute of marriage as it i s currently understood and this will be detrimental for the whole society. For gay marriages to be allowed there has to be a redefinition of marriage so as to include same sex couples. Such a move would invariably purge the social meanings and connection to children from marriage (Duncan 662). The claim that legalizing gay marriages will harm the marriage institute is not baseless since as Kurtz demonstrates, it will transform the institute from its currently solid definition as a union â€Å"solely between a man and a woman† (1). Dents notes that validating same-sex marriages could â€Å"destabilize the cultural meaning of marriage† since it would erode the specialness of marriage (426). Arguments for same-sex marriage might are also arguments for polygamy, endogamy and even incestuous marriage. This is because allowing gay people to marry will result in sexual preference becoming a protected class and this will have multiple dire consequences for the institute of mar riage. Advocates of gay marriages quip that a redefinition of marriage would not have any impact on marriage since it is unlikely that anyone will leave their marriage just because homosexual couples have been given the right to marry.Advertising Looking for essay on rhetoric? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They proceed to state that other groups such as polygamists and endogamy differ significantly since their unions would not be made up of two people as is required in a legally sanctioned marriage. While it is true that allowing same-sex couples to marry will not have an effect on heterosexual couples, it will have repercussions on what marriage is as a social institution. Duncan demonstrates that marriage regulates the relationships and sexual conducts of individuals who are not married and who many not even marry (669). It does this by informing people (especially the youth) on the end to which they aspire since it is a s ocial. Giving gay couples the right to marry will require that homosexuality be deemed as a special class that requires legal protection. Other classes of people such as polygamists or even more troubling, pedophiles, will have the basis to demand for the same legal protection. Allowing gay marriages will have a negative impact on children since the ideal environment for children to grow in is one where they have a mother and a father. While the ability to have children is not a prerequisite to being allowed to marry, majority of the marriages result in children who are then raised within this setting. Same-sex marriages have introduced the endorsement of radically fatherless or motherless homes and in such a union, there are serious questions about what the roles of father and other would mean. The ideal of marriage is inextricably linked to the reality that men and women will become parents as a consequence of the union and they are encouraged to commit to one another â€Å"in a binding relationship for the sake of the children and to further society’s interest in ensuring that those children are provided for† (Duncan 662). However, gay right activists assert that children are not an important aspect of marriage and instead, love and commitment is. In addition to this, gay rights activists reveal that same-sex couples can have children through means such as adoption or artificial reproduction. Becoming a parent through adoption or by â€Å"artificial† means is both costly and time consuming. The same-sex couples who intend to have children by this means are therefore required to invest heavily both financially and emotionally to the process (Cahill 407). This calls for a great deal of foresight and planning and the future of children in such a setting are more guaranteed than in the opposite-sex couple where procreation can occur naturally and without any foresight or planning. This claim ignores findings from extensive research which de monstrate that a heterosexual marriage is the best context for rearing children and studies confirm that this traditional setting is most beneficial to children. Dent reveals that looking at the measures of: physical and mental health, academic performance, social adjustment, and obedience to authority, children who are raised by their birth parents in a marriage union fare significantly better than children who are deprived of this setting (429).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Should gay marriages be allowed? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Duncan states that the sexual liberty interest of adults in choosing their own family forms should never be allowed to â€Å"trump the interest of state and society in trying to strengthen marriage and reverse the current trends towards family fragmentation† (663). Gay marriage should therefore be prevented since children are the society’s future and ensuring that they are given the best opportunity to develop is beneficial for the entire community. Recognition of same-sex marriages would lead to a repression of the freedoms of speech and of religion by many members of the society. Recognizing same-sex marriages would make it necessary for people to be engaged in homosexuality awareness programs. Some of these programs would be institution wide which means that they would be mandatory for everyone and failure to participate would result in reprimanding. As it currently stands, the constitution gives citizens the freedom of speech through the First Amendment. If same-sex marriages become legally valid, this protection afforded to people will disappear. If same-sex marriages are made legally valid, there will be consequences for people or institutes whose religious beliefs prevent them from endorsing such unions. Dent notes that just as government benefits are denied to organizations which engage in discriminatory behavior, the same will be denied to institutes that refuse to recognize same-sex marriages (444). Vocally stating your anti-homosexual views will be regarded as hate speech which is punishable by the law. Proponents of gay marriages note that this alleged repression of the freedoms of speech and of religion will only occur since religion continues to be intolerant to homosexuality. As can be seen, the widespread opposition to homosexuality has its roots in the religious beliefs of people which regard same sex relationships as a perversion of nature and sinful. Gay activists therefore declare that religious beliefs should not be the basis on which laws are built (Wilson 563). However, religion has and continues to be of great importance to many Americans and it guides their conduct in society. The government cannot be neutral on the gay marriage issue; it can either favor different-sex marriage or treat it as equal to gay marriage. Same sex marriages will result in the curbing on expressions of this tradit ional religious beliefs and this will be grossly unjust for many Americans. Why Gay Marriages should be allowed Denying gay couples the opportunity to enter into the institute of marriage denies them of their right to enjoy a fulfilling life with their partners and the benefits that legally recognized marriages bring for the partners. In a marriage union, the couples are able to benefit from income and wealth benefits since they can pool their resources and their tax is also reduced. Refusing to allow same-sex marriages denies same-sex couples of the opportunity to enjoy from this benefits which are available for heterosexual couples.Advertising Looking for essay on rhetoric? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In modern day, marriage is built on the need for companionship by two individuals and the love that they have for each other. The love and satisfaction experienced in relationships is not limited to heterosexual couples and research indicates that the quality of love and satisfaction achieved by same-sex relationships is very similar to that of heterosexuals (Peplau and Fingerhut 405). Same-sex unions are today not regarded as threats to society’s moral fiber and it has been shown that same sex couples can play significant roles in society just like their heterosexual counterparts (Feldblum 10). The only difference between heterosexual marriage unions and those of homosexuals is that the heterosexual couple is able to procreate. However, procreation is not a legally prescribed basis for marriage and gay couples should not be refused marriage because of this (Cahill 395). Opponents of gay marriages declare that marriage is more than two people united for their mutual convenien ce and protected by laws and having certain rights. Marriage is about socially embodied meanings and practices and it not only reflect individual desire but shapes and channels it (Blocher 1). Most of the financial benefits that married couples enjoy from the government are because of the financial responsibilities they are expected to bear in raising children. If homosexual partners are allowed to marry, they will enjoy similar benefits as those heterosexual couples who have to invest significant portions of their finances in raising children. Dent goes on to warn that since gay couples cannot bear children, legalizing gay marriages would result in an escalation of marriages of convenience by gay couples whose only goal would be to gain the tangible benefits accrued from marriage unions (424). The tangible legal benefits that come along with marriage (like inheritance of property) can be attained by other means such as private acts (for example a will) and same-sex couples therefor e do not need to resort to marriage to gain these benefits. In addition to this, there are legally recognized institutes such as â€Å"civil unions† that gay couples can enter into and therefore achieve recognition from the society as well as the government. Same-sex couples can therefore enjoy a fulfilling life with their partners even without being allowed to marry. The denial of marriage rights to gay people has negative outcomes to their mental health and overall well being. As it currently stands, gay couples are suffer disproportionately from mental health conditions due to the various social realities they have to face each day. Herdt and Kertzner document that due to the discrimination that many homosexual couples face, these classes of people suffer from harmful mental health effects such as stress and depression (11). This claim is reiterated by Culhane who proceeds to suggest that if gay couples were allowed to marry, they would not suffer unnecessary from the soci al exclusion and legal uncertainty that is commonplace in their lives today due to the lack of recognition for same sex marriages (491). Allowing gay marriages could offset this negative health outcome as is demonstrated by a research in Britain on the effects of civil partnerships. The study showed that couples who had been granted civil partnership status experienced better health outcomes than those who had not (Culhane 491). Opponents of gay marriages assert that this alleged suffering is self inflicted since homosexuality is not natural but rather a choice that an individual makes. They also go on to highlight that gay couples do not suffer from discrimination since the modern society is tolerant of such practices. Past prejudice against gay unions were based on the popular delusions of the time that same-sex couples were evil and harmful to the society. Today, this misconstrued view is no longer popular and majority of the people are more accommodative of gay unions. In additi on to this, there are laws in place which make it illegal for a person to be discriminated against because of their sexual preferences. Gay rights activists declare that that refusing gay couple’s marriage amounts to discrimination which is against the government policy. Refusing to allow gay people access to an institute (marriage) that is available to heterosexual couples is discriminatory. Volokh states that while the government continues to affirm that it does not condone discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, homosexual couples are still denied the right to enter into marriage and enjoy the benefits provided by the institute (1157). Instead of remaining neutral in the gay marriage debate, the government has taken on a stand against such unions. In addition to this, the government has shown a lot of reluctance in taking steps to ensure that gay couples can live openly and enjoy a life free from harassment from people who are against homosexuality. The religiou s undertones that most public officials hold have been the main cause for the denial of marriage to same-sex couples (Volokh 1165). As it is, marriage is defined from the Christian religion perspective and this makes it difficult for many citizens to advocate for same-sex marriages since it is against their religious beliefs (Wilson 563). Gay rights activists assert that religion should not drive public policy on the issue of marriage since the constitution on which the nation is founded states that no faith should be allowed to impose its standards and beliefs on all citizens. Proponents of gay marriages go on to compare the discrimination against gay couples to the discriminatory apartheid system in the US that made prohibited interracial marriages. This claim is disputed by Blocher who argues that the assertion that denial of gay marriages is discriminatory and can be compared with the prohibition of interracial marriages under an apartheid system is misleading since gay relation ships are not a natural condition but rather a matter of personal preference (1). In addition to this, the level of acceptability for homosexual relationships today is higher than it has been in any other decade. However, there is still popular objection for same-sex marriages in many states all over the US. Feldblum reveals that in a survey seeking to find out publics opinion on the legal recognition of same-sex couples, 50% of the sample group were against same-sex couple legalization. Since the law should be a reflection of the opinions of the citizens of a country, it can be stated that same sex marriages should not be legal due to the majority public opinion not in favor of it. Gay couples should therefore not be given the same legal protection Conclusion This paper set out to argue that gay marriages should not be allowed since they will have an overall negative effect on the society. The paper has highlighted how there has been a shift from the traditional prescription of mar riage as a union between a man and a woman to a new definition that includes same sex couples. The arguments presented have shown that opposition to gay marriages is not driven by hateful attitudes by anti-gay activists but rather by the desire to ensure that marriage maintains its specialness. The paper has argued that while the rights of gay couples should be respected and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation should never be allowed, marriage rights should not be afforded to gay couples. From the discussions presented herein, it is clear that there are a number of legitimate claims against the affordance of marriage rights to gays. The paper has taken care to note some of the benefits that same-sex couples hope to enjoy by joining the marriage institute. This includes fulfilling life with their partners, better mental health outcomes, and even further reductions in discrimination. However, it has been shown that marriage is not the only avenue through which these favo rable benefits can be enjoyed by gay couples. From the arguments raised in this paper, it can be authoritatively stated that the denial of marriage rights to gay couples is justifiable and should remain the case indefinitely so as to ensure the protection of the marriage institute, safeguard the future of our children, and the protection of our freedoms of speech and of religion. Works Cited Blocher, Mark. A Case against â€Å"Gay Marriage†. NY: Christian Worldview Concepts, 2004. Print. Cahill, Megan. â€Å"The Genuine Article: A Subversive Economic Perspective on the Law’s Procreationist Vision of Marriage†. Wash. Lee Law Review 64.2 (2007): 393-468. Culhane, John. â€Å"Marriage equality? First, justify marriage (if you can)†. Drexel University Law Review 1.2 (2009): 485-511. Dent, George. â€Å"Traditional Marriage: Still worth defending†. BYU Journal of Public Law 18.1 (2004): 419-447. Duncan, William. â€Å"The Litigation to Redefine Marria ge: Equality and Social Meaning†. Journal of Public Law 18.1 (2005): 623-663. Feldblum, Chai, Moral Conflict and Liberty: Gay Rights and Religion. Jan 2006. Web. Herdt, Gilbert and Kertzner, Robert. â€Å"I Do, but I Can’t: The Impact of Marriage Denial on the Mental Health and Sexual Citizenship of Lesbians and Gay Men in the United States; Sexuality Research and Social Policy†. Journal of NSRC 3.1 (2006): 33-49. Kurtz, Stanley. â€Å"Beyond Gay Marriage†. The Weekly Standard 8.45 (2003): 1-2. Peplau, Letitia and Fingerhut, Adam. â€Å"The Close Relationships of Lesbians and Gay Men†. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 58.1(2007): 405–24. Volokh, Eugene. â€Å"Same-Sex Marriage and Slippery Slopes†. Hofstra Law Review 33.1 (2005): 1155–1201. Wilson, Justin. â€Å"Preservationism, or the elephant in the room: how opponents of same-sex marriage deceive us into establishing religion†. Duke Journal of Gender Law Policy 14.1 (2007): 561-57 8. This essay on Should gay marriages be allowed? was written and submitted by user Scott Stephenson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.