I’m against punishment by death. It doesn’t mean one shouldn’t have consequences for what they do. It simply means the “punishment” part has been taken care of. People seem to think punishment=consequences, but they are not the same thing.
Just and effective consequences are incarceration for reasons that include restraint (protecting society from dangerous criminals), deterrence, restoration where possible, voluntary rehabilitation, and forced productivity to pay one’s way through their stay at the Big House.
Then you have no respect for the LIFE of innocent victims. If a murderer is allowed to live, then there is no justice for the victim.
Do you think a guy like Ted Bundy should have been allowed to live to a ripe old age masturbating every night while thinking of all the good times he had torturing and raping and murdering young girls?
Should he be allowed to live while his victims lie dead in the ground?
Those who have a blanket objection to the death penalty have no respect for life. Those who take innocent life should not be allowed to live. That was what God decreed 4000 years ago and nothing changed that.
Just out of curiosity, if someone raped and tortured and murdered your three year old daughter or granddaughter would you favor the death penalty for that monster?
Or would you find comfort in the fact that he will continue to live for the next 50 years getting a sexual thrill every day from the memory of that event and getting 3 square meals a day, television, and free medical care while you pay for his useless existence by your taxes?
And if you would favor the death penalty in that case, then what gives you the right to dictate to others how they should react and to deny them the justice that you would desire.
When the State executes a murderer they are acting on behalf of not only the people of the state, but on behalf of the victim and the victim’s family.