My biggest issue with the death penalty is that there is a really thin line between justice and vengeance. We want justice, but having a justice system based on vengeance and retribution seems like a big backward step in the civilization stakes.
Capital punishment seems awful on so many counts, unsafe convictions, the sometimes decades long interval between the crime and carrying out the sentence, the finality of the sentence, the lack of deterrent effect that this supposed 'punishment' has, the use of violence on the violent, the focus on vengeance rather than forgiveness. Now you can add botched executions to the list. Is it any wonder that the list of states that have either abolished it, or put moratoriums on it keeps growing?
On a lighter note, I've always favored an
Escape from New York approach.
Perhaps some desolate spot in the Aleutians. But sooner or later some intrepid reporter or social justice warrior will drop in for a look-see, and a tragedy will result....
