[IronJack]

Hogwash. Our judicial system isn't perfect; none is. But if we fear to dispense justice because we may err in prosecuting the innocent, then why do we pretend to justice of ANY kind? Is it any less criminal to sentence an innocent man to life imprisonment than death? And is it any less a breach of civil duty to release a guilty man out of fear than it is to convict an innocent one out of error?

We do NOT know that any innocents have been executed. Numerous convictions have been overturned, many for purely technical reasons. But I don't know of a single case where an innocent man was PROVEN innocent after he was executed.

The State wields far vaster power than that of capital punishment. At least in that case, an intricate due process is invoked -- usually repeatedly.

The option of capital punishment -- the death penalty -- is essential if true justice is to be served.

[RIghtwardHo]

Hogwash indeed.

You’d think different if someone you loved was looking at the death penalty ... wrongfully. There is no coming back from an execution. Period. So it’s OK to kill the innocent to do what .. man up? “Well, we killed Bob wrgonfull but by gum at least we are men”?

Wrong. No. Absolutely not.

Leave that to Saudi Arabia.