maplesyrup
I used to be in favor of the death penalty but after thinking a lot about it over the past few years I’ve changed my mind.
It comes down to what should be the purpose/function of the penal system, or how you prioritize the multiple purposes. Is it rehabilitation? Deterrence? Protecting the public? Punishment? Revenge?
Of all of those purposes, the only one in which the death penalty is superior to life in prison (without the possibility of parole) is revenge. Is revenge what we’re really after? And in meeting the rest of the purposes, life in prison is equal or superior to the death penalty.
I also have a lot of doubts about whether we should be giving the government the right to take the lives of its citizens. Corruption and inefficiency are unfortunately part of the system. Knowing how inept the government can be in other areas, do we really want to let them make this kind of decision? I don’t want to see anyone executed because of an erroneous conviction.