[taxed2death]

"....were my child to die of a heroin overdose, because were that to happen, it would be because my child chose to take heroin."

You're a better person than I. The drug dealer who sold drugs to your child indeed would have played a part in his/her death.

If it were my child, I would hope he would be put to death so he could not be complicit in another child's death. Sometimes killing someone can save others.

[Vicomte13]

No, I'm not a better person.
I am an obedient Catholic.
One of the difficult doctrines of my church is opposition to the death penalty.
The death penalty is easy.
I prefer sentences to slavery at hard labor for all criminal activities of whatever sort.
This both preserves life and does good.
Work as penitence.