[somerfrost]

Always an emotional issue and it's hard to say that some folks don't deserve being put down as their actions make them monsters but there are two major issues: first, there are people on death row who are innocent, the justice system makes mistakes and usually, the more resources a defendant has, the better his chance of a fair deal. DNA and other advances may help level the playing field but still, many people are convicted of terrible crimes on evidence that is questionable. Secondly...what exactly is the reason to take a life? Is it justice or revenge? That is where emotion comes in....and it's an individual point of view. If you are the victim of a violent crime or have lost a friend or relative to a savage attack, nobody can blame you for wanting to see the perp punished. Does seeing someone put to death help you heal, to move on? That seems to depend on the individual. Does the death penalty deter future violent crimes...well, to be sure the person being put to death won't re-offend but does it really effect the behavior of others? Most violent crimes are either acts of passion or cold, calculated, planned in advance acts...it is doubtful that in either case being caught is paramount in the perp's mind. And even if it is...is it moral to kill a person to effect another person's acts? Difficult questions and the answer differs from person to person.