Well, I'm for the death penalty, if handed down by a jury.
It has nothing to do with cost. It has nothing to do with the humanity/inhumanity of a punishment. Simply put, there are crimes so severe that willing perpetrators SHOULD forfeit their lives for committing them. They've decided to write a closing chapter for someone else, so I have little concern when society decides to do the same to them.
And, by the way, I'm sick to death of this, "We shouldn't judge people" stuff. If you feel that way, you should never serve on a jury. PERIOD. The prohibition against judgement talked about in the Bible refers to the worthiness/unworthiness of a person for God's grace and forgiveness...as if we have any authority on such a subject.
The law of the land asks us to determine a person's guilt. Serving on a jury requires a civic responsibility to respond appropriate to the wishes of society - not according to our religious - or any other - whim. If the law of the land recommends the death penalty be CONSIDERED, then is should be appropriately CONSIDERED.
Many things about the prison system as it currently exists are an absolute joke. Sustinence and rehabilitation are all that are required - and, as a citizen, out of what little goodness there is in my heart toward criminals, I'll be willing to foot the bill for education in the prisons, as well. Television? Computer Access? Fully furnished gymnasiums? No way.
