I don’t see it as power of the state but of the people. Jury trial, jury penalty recommendation.
Is the death penalty a deterrent? Maybe not, but it does guarantee the murderer will not be a repeat offender.
Some crimes are so heinous that to not hand down the death penalty would be an insult to civilized society.
By that argument taxes, affirmative action and alien amnesty are actions if the people. I well understand the arguments in favor of capital punishment but I simply offered what I see as a compelling argument against it. As I said, I’m split on the question. Life is a gift and I’m not sure the very fallible state should be empowered to take it away from anyone. Just a thought.
Some crimes are so heinous that to not hand down the death penalty would be an insult to civilized society.
...fine, but the instrument of that penalty should be the family of the victim, not a dispassionate entity with little or no skin in the game...
...turn death row inmates loose into the arms of their victim’s loved ones...that is the purest justice...