It affirms the VALUE of life. There is no punishment that approaches the value of a life. The only equal payment for murdering a life is a life.
Not to require that life payment is to say that the first life was not valuable. That encourages murder.
Is 50 years in jail a fair trade for your child's life?
Jesus Christ already made that payment.
Is 50 years in jail a fair trade for your child's life?
Does an eye for an eye bring you closure and peace? You might want to check with the families of victims about that.