[John O]

Punishing criminals only keeps them from re-offending.

That's not a solution.

Incarcerating them is temporary. Executing them fixes the problem.

We need to focus on building strong intact families that will instill strong values into our young people.

This is true. But we cannot afford to abandon enforcement of our current laws. In fact, if we actually enforced the laws we'd have better families. Right now we heavily subsidize broken families instead of punishing the behaviors that break families. Welfare causes crime.

So they never commit a crime. The old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure applies here.

Still true. But in those cases where they do commit a crime, punishment must be quick and exceedingly painful so that they (or their survivors) do not commit any more crimes.

[John O]

(sorry for the double post)

[Liz]

We need to focus on building strong, intact families
that will instill strong values into our young people.

So why do the mother's of serial killers and criminals
tearfully proclaim after the trial, "he was a good boy."

The intact family of Natalee Hollway's killer vouched for him...his mother called him "a good boy." The "good boy" is now in jail for killing another young girl. God knows how many more vandersloot killed....then went home to his loving family (I believe his father was a judge).

[Carry_Okie]

Still true. But in those cases where they do commit a crime, punishment must be quick and exceedingly painful so that they (or their survivors) do not commit any more crimes.

In a word, "Singapore."