Like you, I cannot fathom why anyone would be so selfish as to kill a baby for mere convenience. The problem is that the pro-abortion crowd has done a far better P.R. job than we have.
Here's a question: Of the democracies that have banned capital punishment what good has come of it in those countries?
Actually, you could say that these democracies have actually swung the other way since capital punishment has been banned and are now pro-euthenasia states.
I think banning capital punishment actually shows a great disrespect for life because it proves that the society will not go the full measure to exact justice in extreme cases.
If live in prison meant life in prison I think most reasonable people, not all, would agree to abolishing the death penalty. The problem is that all you need is one pardoning liberal (Clinton comes to mind) and justice is perverted...