If “we can’t be sure” about exacting the death penalty, then we can’t be sure about incarcerating someone for life either.
Most opposition to the death penalty is convenient cover for leniency against any criminals. Look at Mumia. He wasn’t executed and yet there is a massive campaign to have him freed although he executed a police officer in cold blood. Same with Charles Manson. His supporters were numerous, horrifyingly so.
That is silly. If they are sentenced to life and we find out 5 years later that they were innocent, they get freed and the effect of the mistake is minimized. If they are executed and we find 5 years later that they were innocent, there is nothing that can be done to minimize the mistake.
Most opposition to the death penalty is convenient cover for leniency against any criminals.
I will grant that much of the opposition is leniency toward criminals (not most) but that is the appeal to motive logical fallacy.
>>His supporters were numerous, horrifyingly so.<<
I completely agree with every point you’ve made. See my post #29.