[nitzy]

If “we can’t be sure” about exacting the death penalty, then we can’t be sure about incarcerating someone for life either.

That is silly. If they are sentenced to life and we find out 5 years later that they were innocent, they get freed and the effect of the mistake is minimized. If they are executed and we find 5 years later that they were innocent, there is nothing that can be done to minimize the mistake.

Most opposition to the death penalty is convenient cover for leniency against any criminals.

I will grant that much of the opposition is leniency toward criminals (not most) but that is the appeal to motive logical fallacy.

[fwdude]

What if a convicted felon dies in prison after a life sentence (many do.) How is that un-doable?

[fortes fortuna juvat]

>>If they are executed and we find 5 years later that they were innocent, there is nothing that can be done to minimize the mistake.<<

The poster’s argument that you describe as “silly” is definitely NOT silly, and the first word of your statement above demonstrates why it’s not.