|
It's one of the problems with democracy being a "majority rule" situation. The majority of people in certain states vote to keep this practice going. This kind of thing is also what makes amendments banning gay marriage in perpetuity. When the majority of people are wilfully blind and stupid, they vote for stupid laws.
It is about vengeance. Anyone who says it is about deterrence is a fool.
Statistically, it is not a deterrent at all.
It is also far more expensive to go through the legal processes involved in putting someone to death than it is to keep them in prison for life, which is arguably more "punishment" than a quick death anyway.
Outmoded thinking from a bygone age.
As for the "victims rights" crowd, I say this:
If we are going to keep the death penalty in the name of "victims rights," I say the victim should have to do the actual killing if they want it to happen at all. Some will choose to do it, some won't. Some will regret their decision afterwards and some won't. They will all have to live with their decisions, and they will all have had the chance for "vengeance."
This of course will never happen. Makes too much sense. It also calls on people to take care of their own affairs, which they don't like to do when it gets messy.
|