[pfflier]

I’m sure that is the same moral dilemma that the condemned killers ponder as they rape, burn, slice, shoot, strangle, suffocate, starve, poison, run over, etc their victims.

[PapaNew]

And I'm sure you know all about why people do what they do but I wonder if you know that but for the grace and mercy of God go you and I. Many if not most of the time these were themselves victims in their early life. These should be reasons to pause, but are not the most dispositive, definitive reasons to cease unjust capital punishment.

- You think the death penalty serves justice because it's an "eye for an eye." Fair enough except for one problem: Somebody has already paid "an eye for an eye" for those criminals and their heinous acts, so unjust double jeopardy is in play here.
- What about the victims and their family? Countless personal and professional examples testify to the fact that there is only one way victims of savagery can recover from the hurt and angst of victimization: forgiveness. Revenge feels good for awhile but does not relieve the pain.
- What about society? You lock up dangerous criminals to protect society.
- What about the cost? Oh, OK well I guess there is such thing as killing for convenience, but let's take another tack which hits directly at our medieval penal system: prisoners should be productive and at least pay their way in prison.