Over time, I have come to oppose the death penalty (intellectually), but not for the reasons one might think...
First- it is never applied fairly. If it were, rich jerks like the Melendez brothers would be on death row instead of reading fan mail.
Second- the perps would get one appeal and then the morgue.
Third- they would NEVER get such a peaceful death as that offered by the needle. Bring back Old Sparky. They should face, at least, SOME of the pain and terror they afforded their victims.
Fourth- repeat child molesters and rapists should be on the list. These people cannot be "rehabilitated". They offer NOTHING of any worth to the society. They are less than subhuman and not worth our pity or time. Burn 'em.
There's only one good reason for not executing a child molester who hasn't killed his victim, and a very good one--the risk of execution if he kills his victim might deter him from killing the victim. For that reason, and that reason alone, I don't favor executing child molesters who haven't killed their victims. Jailing them for the rest of their lives, OTOH, is just fine.
So you oppose the application of the death penalty, not the death penalty itself?