[Lady Sidhe]

This isn't a religious issue for me, and it's only a moral issue in that I believe that to place the value of the life of the murderer over the life of the victim or potential victims is immoral.

And to tell the truth, I don't see the death penalty as murder at all, and I'll tell you why.

I see "murder" as being perpertrated on an innocent person, for a reason such as: being hired to kill them, wanting their possessions, trying to eliminate a witness, etc.

Now, the death penalty is out there for the world to see. It says, "if you do THIS, we will--ostensibly-- execute you if you are found guilty." Big, flashing neon sign.

Therefore, if I decide to murder someone, and it isn't in self-defense, defense of another, or defense of property, I know the possible consequence. So when you look at it like that, it's a type of passive suicide.

It's like, you know that jumping off a building will kill you, but you're taking the chance that there's gonna be a trampoline there to catch you. You know the consequence. We're not obliged to place a trampoline beneath every window. If you're stupid enough, or uncaring enough, to jump out of that window, don't bitch because you go splat.


I agree with LadySyc in that wanting revenge and feeling hatred towards these predators is just how some people are, and they have the right to feel that way. I don't see murderers as worthy of sharing the title of "person" with me, because there should be standards one must meet to be considered a person. Being human doesn't make you a person, any more than being a feline makes a housecat a tiger. I'm offended to have them in the same category as me.

I feel that by not acting in a manner agreed to by the rest of society, murderers have thus separated themselves from society, and, once convicted, should have the rights given to a member of that society revoked. Why is it ok for a farmer to kill coyotes who prey on his stock, but it's not ok for the state to kill the less-than-animal creatures that prey on society? Why is it ok to put down a rabid animal that is a danger, but not put down a predatory human being that is a danger?

If someone killed a member of my family, you bet I'd pull the switch, drop the floor, inject the drugs, pull the trigger, whatever. Like LadySyc, I'm vengeful by nature. I'd want to look into their eyes when I did it, too. Why should they live when my loved one is dead? It may not bring them back, but it would be a start on the healing process for me.

And you know what? I'd sleep like a baby afterward.

Sidhe